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978.201

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1417466

GENEALCGY COLLECTIQH

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3 1833 01103 3641

HISTORY

Richardson County

NEBRASKA

ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

LEWIS C. EDWARDS

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families

ILLUSTRATED

1917

B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc.

Indianapolis, Indiana

1417466

DEDICATION.

To the memory of the i)ioneers of Richardson county who worked with
earnest purpose and unflinching hearts through tlie trials and privations of
this frontier and to those generous and progressiAe citizens of today whose
loyal support has made its publication possible, this vohinie is respectfully
dedicated.

LEWIS C. liDWARDS.

AUTHOR'S FOREWORD

Extensive efforts have been made fur years liy archaeulogisls and
ethnologists in an effort to recover and preserxe for our i;eneral infcjrnia-
tioii everything tliat it has l)een possible to discover of otlier races of peoples
who have inhabited this eartii. In this great \V(jrk the scientific men of all
countries have been engaged, expending much money, time and energ}- in
tracing the history of races with whom we sustain no kinship or direct rela-
tionship.

We think it equally laudable of us in a more local wa\ to want to know
and try to preserve what little is possible of the story of those wlio have
gone directly before us, not only for our own pleasure and benefit but for
th(ise who will follow.

It was for this reason that the work of preparing the present volume
was undertaken and it was not Ijegun a da\- out of season, for l)ut few <if
the pioneers are still among us and in a short time they tno may have moved
onward.

There are \et among us those who saw Richardson cuunt}' as an
unpeo])led wilderness and who were so charmed with its natural lieautx' as
a land to li\e in that tliey would go no further in search of homes.

They have remained through all the years and have contributed much
toward the steady march of progress which has so changed the land that luit
little remains to remind them of the cinuUr\ the\- once knew as a part <'f
the Great I'lains.

The story of tiie settlement, growth and (le\elopnieni of Richard'-on
county is set forth in tlie succeeding pages. I'^very eft'ort was made to
ascertain the facts in so far as it has been able to cover the ground.

It is desired iierewith to make due and fulsome acknowledgment of
the great kindness and uniform courtesy extended us from all sides in the
preparation of the material used herein.

In this connection we feel under especial oliiigation to Mr. Ch-is. l.oree
for his unfailing courtes}- and kindness. Mis early, wide and intimate
acquaintance and perfect memory of men and e\ents connected with Rich-
ardson L'ounty Histor\- is trul\- marxelous and ha\e been inxaluable to us.

Grateful acknowledgment also is due man\" iiersons wJio ha\-e cu-

triluiltd materially to the progress of the work. Amor.g tiiese are: Jose])h
H. Miles, Governor John H. JMorehead. Arthur J- Weaver. David D. Reavi>.
-Mrs. Thomas J. Gist. H. C. Davis. A. R. Keim. .Mr. and :\lrs. W. II. Keeling.
Drs. C. T. Biirchard and J. A. Waggener. Stipt. D. H. \\'eber, J. O. Shroyer.
Mrs. J. R. Wilhite. Eunice Ha.skins. Dr. E. R. Matthers. and nian\ others
who ha\e given us kindly words of encounigenient.

LIAVIS G. KDWAUDS.

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE

All life and achie\eineiit is t\oluti(iu: present wisiloni cnines fnnii past
experience, and present commercial prosperit}' has come only from past exer-
tion and sacrifice. The tleeds and motives of the men who have gone before
ha\e been instrnmental in shaping the destinies of later communities and
states. The develoj)ment of a new conntry was at once a task and a privi-
legs. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the pres-
ent conditions of the people of Richardson county. Nebraska, with what they
were sixty years ago. bVoni a trackless wilderness and virgin land, the county
h;is come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of wealth,
systems of railways, educational and religious institutions, \aried industries
and immense agricultural and dairy interests. Can an\- thinking person be
insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the aspirations and
efforts of the early pioneers who so strongly laid the foundation upon which
has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days? To perpetuate the
story of these people and to trace and record the social, religious, educational,
political and industrial progress of the community from its first inception, is
the function of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preserve facts and
personal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite the
present to the past, is the motive for the present publication. The publishers
desire to extend their thanks to those who have so faithfully labored to this
end. Thanks are also due to the citizens of Richardson county, for the uni-
form kindness with which they have regarded this undertaking, and for their
many services rendered in the gaining of necessary information.

In placing the "History of Richardson County. Nebraska." before the
citizens, the publishers can conscientiously claim that they have carried out
the plan as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographical sketch in the work
has been submitted to the party interested, for correction, and therefore any
error of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the person for whom the sketch
was prepared. Confident that our effort to please will fully meet the appro-
bation of the public, we are. ,

Respectfully,

THI<: I'UBLISHI'.RS.

CONTENTS

Al'TER I— TOPOGRAPHY. GEOI-OGY, ETC., OF RIGHARDSOX
GOUXTY 33

Rolling Prairies of This Section of Nebraska Were an Alluring Feature That
Did Xot Escape the Eye of the Settler in Quest of a Home in the Xew
Country — Streams of F'ine \Vater. the Banks of Which Were Well Tini-
liered — Xative Timber Restored by the Mastery of the Old Prairie Fires
and the Former Aspect of the Country Has Been Changed Thereby —
• Juality of the Soil — Inexhaustive Quarries of Excellent Building Stone —
Trilnitaries of the Great Nemaha River — Description of the Area of the
County — Climatic Conditions and a Scientific Analysis of the Physiographic
Position of the County.

Al'TER II— IXDIAX HISTORY AXU PREHISTORIC TIMES (>3

Pawnees .\ppear to Have Had the Best Claim as the Aboriginal Inhabitants
of the Country Now Comprised in Richardson County — Story of Their ( )ccu-
pane3' and of That of the Sacs and Foxes — Review of the Various Treaties
Under \\'hich the Red Man Gradually Gave Up His Lands — Evidences of
Prehistoric Occupancy Based Upon the Finding of Skeletons and Relics at
Several Points in County — Coming of the Missionaries to the Indians and
Sometliini; of the llabits of Living and of the Religion of the Red Man.

APTER III— -SPANISH EXPLORATIOXS 85

F'irst \\hite Men to Set F'oot on the Land Xow Comprised Within the
Conlines of This County Were the .\dvcnturous Cavaliers of Coronado"s
liand Which Came Up F'rom the .\ztec Country Seeking What They Might
I'ind in the Xorth Country and Who Left a Record of Having Reached
The I'-ortieth Parallel of Latitude, Together With a Report of the Condi-
tions of Life of the Indians at That Time Occupying This Country — Later
\'isit of the I'rench F2xplorers, the Coming of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
the .\cc|uirement of the Louisiana Territory and the Gradual Development
of Settlements Leading Up to the F.ventual Creation of Nebraska Territory
and the Passing of the Kansas-Xeliraska Act.

.\PTER IV— EARLY SETTLEMEXT .\XU EARLY SL-R\I':YS 'W

I'itting Tribute to the American Pioneer, Who Is Descril)cd as a Distinct
Tyi>e Well Qualified to I-^nter Upon the X'eritable Garden of lulen Which
.\waited His .Advent Out Here Beyond the Missouri — Review of Conditions
\\ hich Led to the Immigration Stream in This Direction and Bit of Refer-
ence to the Character and Stock of That Hardy Band Which Sought a Wider
Horizon Here On the Limitless Prairies — Influence of the Missouri River
in Directing Settlement IlitherwanI — l'"our l-'.pochs in Settlement Period —

CONTENTS.

Roster of Pioneers Who Settled Here Prior to 1860. Together With a Brief
Review of Conditions They Faced and the Hardships They Were Compelled
to Undergo While Making Habitable a Place for Those Who Should Come
After — Land Speculation, Claim Jumpers, Jayhawkers, the "Underground
Railroad" and Something Regarding the Various Separate "Colonies" Which
Settled Here, Closing With a Review of the Early Surveys of County, and
a Story of the Iron Monument.

CI1.\PTER V— ORG.\XlZ.\TION OF RICHARDSON COUNTY Hi

Name of County Was Given in Compliment to First Territorial Governor —
Temporary Organization in 1854 Was Definitely Established bj' the Terri-
torial Legislature in 18SS, and the First Election Was Held in This Latter
Year — First County Officers Chosen — Original Boundaries of County — The
Half Breed Tract — First Census and Polling Places — Organization of Pre-
cincts— Legislative .\cts With Reference to the County and the Gradual
Development of a Stable Form of Local Government.

CHAPTER VI— LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT 1S4

Historian Has Been at Pains to Examine the Official Records With a View
to Determining the Influences Underlying the Long Struggle Which Per-
sisted in the h'.arly Days of the County in the Matter of the Location of the
County Seat and Which hinally Resulted in the Rejection of the Respective
Claims of Archer and of Salem and the Establishment of the Seat of Local
Government at I'"alls City — Vote by Precincts Attesting the Final Choice
of the People — County Buildings and a Word Regarding Early Political
Conditions in the County.

CH.XPTER Vll— ROSTER OF COCNTY OFFICERS 171

In the List Given in This Chapter of Those Who Have Served the People
of Richardson County in an Official Capacity, It Is Gratifying to Note That
Some of the Very /Vblest Men in the County Have Thus Rendered Efficient

Service and That the County Government Has From the Very Beginning
Been Singularly Free From Scandal — Names of Officers, Including County
Clerks, Probate Judges, County Judges, Registers of Deeds, Clerks of Dis-
trict Court, County Treasurers. Sheriffs, County Commissioners, Superin-
tendents of Public Instruction, Surveyors, Coroners, Supervisors, County

Attorneys and the New Commissioners .appointed Under the Recently
Adopted Commission I'orm of County Government.

C ILXPTER Vill— ORt;ANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS .VND PRECINCTS 190

Here WiU Be Found the Stories Regarding the I'"ormation of the Several
Townships or Precincts Which h'orm Units of Civic Government in the
(General Government of the County, Beginning With Barada. Which Was
Xamed for Old Antoine Barada. One of the Most Interesting and Picturesque
Figures of the Plains Country in the Early Days. Together With an Interest-
ing Collection of Narratives of Incidents Relating to the Early Life of the
County and Personal and Illuminating Reference to Many of Tliose Hardy
I'igures Which Made Possible the -Settlement of This Favored Region —
Topulation Statistics and Sonietlnni; in Relation to Townsites That Early
Were Located lor I'ublie .Mlolnient and Sale.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX— INCORPORATION OF TOWNS AND PRECINCTS 215

In This Chapter There Is Set Out in Interesting Form a Mass of Official
Information Taken From the Records of the County and Bearing on the
Original Orders of Incorporation of the Towns and Precincts of the County,
Together With F'urthcr References to the Men Who Were the Foremost
Figures in Such Transactions. With Stories Relating to Many of Them, and
a Brief History of the Various Towns and Villages Which Have F'rom the
Beginning Constituted Valuable Social and Commercial Centers for the Peo-
ple of the Several Communities in the Countj'.

CHAPTER X— SERIES OF FIRST EVENTS 245

Nothing in the History of Any Community Carries More of Interest Than a
Narration of the First Incidents Bearing on the Settlement of Such a Com-
munitj'. and This Chapter Relating to the "Firsts" of Richardson County
Ought to Be Regarded as One of the Most Interesting in the Book, for Here
Will Be F"ound Set Out in Orderly Ai-Vay the Story of the Beginnings ot
Things in This Region Based Upon the Activities of Those Who Were
Among the First of Those Who Dared and Did in the Days of the Beginning
of the Establishment of a Definite Social Order on This Side of tlu
Missouri.

CHAPTER XI— AGRICCLTCRE AND STOCKRAISING _'53

From the Days of the Unbroken Growths of Luxuriant Prairie Grass Which
Covered the Rich Plains Throughout This Region to the Present Period of
llighlj' Developed and Specialized Agriculture Is Not a Far Cry as Meas-
ured in Years, for There Are Those Still Living Here Who Helped to Turn
the First F'urrows in These Prairies, But in the Measure of Results Accom-
plished an Astonishing Distance Has Been Covered, and This Chapter Is
Designed to Present the Story of the Wonderful Development That Has
Marked Agricultural Processes During the Comparatively Short Period in
Which the White Man Has Been in Possession of the Countrj'.

CHAPTER XII-EARLV TRANSPORTATION. NAVIGATION AND RAIL-
ROADS 292

Herein Will Be Found the Story of the Development of the Means of Travel
and Transportation From the Days of the l-tiver Steamboat and the "Prairie
Schooner" to the Present Day of the Transcontinental Steel "Flyers" and
the High-powered .\utomobiIes, Which Latter, in Particular. Are Serving
to Bind Communities More Closely Together and to Bring the Farm Into
Close Communication With the Markets and Social Centers — Interesting
Story of the Old Days of the River Boats and the Great Trains of the
h'reighters Along the Overland Trails of a Day Gone By — First Effort in
Behalf of a Railroad — When the Railroad Reached Falls City — Excursion to
Atchison — Coming of the Automobile and a Comparison With Condition'^
That Existed in the Days of llie Old Overland Stage.

CH.M'TER XIII— SC110(J1,S AXD EDl'C.\TION Mc

In This Chapter Countj- Superintendent Weber Presents an Interesting
Review of the School Activities of Richardson County From the Time of the
County's Early Settlement arid the Humble "Subscription" Schools to the

CONTENTS.

I'lcsent Day of the Highly Specialized School Systtm Comprising the VVcU-
Orsanized Schools of the Cities and Villages and the Equally Well-Organ-
ized Consolidated Schools of the Rural Districts, All Being Operated I'nder
a Definite Plan, \\'ith a View to Securing the liest .\ttain;il)le Kcsults in the
Way of Educating the Youth of the County.

chai'T1-:r XIV— chlrciiI':s oi- riciiardsox couxty i7i

( hurch History of a Locality Is Inseparable From Its Growth and Devel-
opment, the Induence of the Church Being Felt in Every Force That Goes
to Make Up a Prosperous and Moral Community, and in Xo Phase of the
Development of Richardson County Has There Been a Stronger Influence
for Good Than the Church Organizations of the County; a Story of Which,
Together With Many Interesting Incidents Relating to the Religious Ob-
servances of the Pioneers Has Been Compiled Under the Direction of
David D. Reavis and Is Here Set Out for the Information and Inspiration
of the Present Generation and the- Guidance of the Future.

tHAl'TFR XV— XEWSPAPERS OF RlCHAfiDSON COUNTY 404

In This Chapter the Historian Has Presented a Comprehensive and Enter-
taining Review of the Operations of "the Fourth Estate" in Richardson
County and Has Incidentally Preserved for the Edification of the Present
and the Information of Future Generations of Readers Numerous Stories
of the Doings of the Newspaper Editors Who Proved Such Powerful and
Influential F'actors in the General Life of the Community in the Old Days,
and Whose Unselfish and Untiring Efforts in Behalf of the New Country
Worked Such Wonders of Accomplishment in the Way of Assisting in the
Development of the Various Interests of the County at a Time When the
"Getting Out" of a Newspaper Was Very Much More a Pure Labor of Love
Than It Is Today— Veteran Editor's Tribute to the Old-Timers in Local
Xewspaperdom.

CHAI'TFK XVI— PHYSICIANS OF RlCHAkDSOX COUNTY 428

Close and Intimate Relation Borne by the I'amily Physician to the Real Life
of the Community to Which He Ministers Makes Him One of the Most
Vital Factors for Good in That Community, and in the Chapter to Which
the Reader Here Refers the Importance of This Situation Is Clearly Brought
Out, the Medical History of the County of Richardson Being Interestingly
and Entertainingly Reviewed by Doctor Burchard and Doctor Waggener,
Whose Long and Intimate Acquaintance With the Conditions They Portray
Gives to Their Narratives an Informative Importance That Will Be Valued
and Appreciated More and More as the Years Pass.

CIIAI'Tl-.k XX'IU^TIII". r.l-.XCll AXD TllIC P.AR 440

.\o History Is Complete Without Some Specific Reference to the Courts
and Lawyers of the Section That History Seeks to Cover, for to the Bench
and to the Bar Fall a No Unimportant and a No Indecisive Part in the
Development of the Human Progress l"pon Which History Is liased. and
the Development of Social Conditions in Richardson County Has Been Xo
h'xeeption to This Rule, the Courts and the Lawyers Having Played Con-
sijicuous Parts in the Creation of the Splendid Conditions .\mid Which
the I'cople nf This County Today I'ind Themselves. .Ml of Which Is Enter-

CONTENTS.

lAPTER XVlll— I'.AXKS AXD IJAXKIXG 472

During the Pioiieir I'criod in Richardson County There Were Xo Banks and
\'ery Little liankiiii;- lUisiness Done Except Such as Was Conducted by the
I'.arly Merchants. I!ut as Settlement Developed and Communities V^xpanded
the Xecessity for the F.stablishment of Recognized Mediums Through
Which the Credit h'acilities of the Community Might Systematically ( )perate
Led to the Organization of Fn.pcrly Accredited Hanks. Cntil Xow There Is
Xo Appreciable Social Center in the County That Is Xot Provided With
(^ne or More Stal)K- I'inancial Institutions for the Proper Accommoda-
tion of the Community Thus Served, and This Chapter Gives in a Nutshell
tlie Story of the I'reation id" Tliese I'.anking Institutions. Together With a
Statement Relative to the Respective Present Status of Each.

APTER XIX— Mll.nWRV HISTORY 4S7

Though Nebraska Had Not Been Admitted to Statehood at the Time of the
I'.reaking Out <>! the Civil War the Hardy Pioneers Who Had Even Then
I'ound a b'oothold On the Soil Here Did Well Their Part in That Struggle
in Defense- of the Cuion, as the Reader Will Kind Is Made Clear in the
Chapter Here Ueferred to. Wherein Is Set Out the Story of the Participation
of Richardson County in That Struggle, as Well as the Story of Her I'ar-
ticipation in the Subsequent Spanish-American War and in the Present
Great World \\ ar. in Which Latter Supreme Str'uggle So Many of the
Active and Determined Young Men of This County Are Taking Part at the
Time These Words Are Being Written.

APTER XX— I'ALI.S CITY, THE. COL'XTY SEAT 501

In This Chapter There Is Set Out at Informative Length and in an Enter-
taining h'ashion the History of the County Seat of Richardson County E'rom
the Days of Its Inception to the Present Day of Its Important Develop-
ment, With a View to Giving the Reader Some Notion of the Various Steps
in This Process of Development and of Preserving for the Future a Record
of the Same.

.\PTER XXI— Till-: CITY OF IIL"MBO[-DT 53S

The Historian I las Here Set (Hit a Comprehensive Review of the Variou.s
Phases Through Which the Second City in Richardson County Has Passed
in .Vttaining Its I'resent High State of Development, and Has Presented at
the Same Time an Interesting Collection of Pioneer Reminiscences Relating
to Huml)oldt and the Humboldt Neighborhood, With Biographical Sketches
of Many of the l-.arliest Settlers Therein.

.\PTKR XXII — HISTORICAL SKETCH OF DAWSON 561

Beginning With a Story of the First Pre-F"mptors .'Klong the Rich Valley of
the Nemaha, William I'enton Has Presented in This Chapter a Review of
the Beginning and the Development of the Pleasant Village of Dawson and
Has Set Out in That Connection Much Exceedingly Interesting Information
Relating to the ICarly Days of That Xeighborhood.

\pti-:r xxiii— di-:i'CXCt 'I'owxs of richardsox cocxtv _. -^75

The "Ohl-Timer- W ill I'ind Numerous References in This Chapter Relating

to Towns and Townsites That Gave Promise in the Days of the Pioneers

.That Will Revive Many Pleasant Recollections in His Mind of the Days

Gone P.y. for Here .\re Set Out, as Tales That Were Told, the Stories of

CONTENTS.

the De|);irte(l Glories of Such Onc-Tiine Ambitious Sites as Those of Archer.
Yankton. W'innebago, Stumps Station. Shasta, Ehiiore, Cottage Grove, Elk-
ton. Breckenridge, Peora, Springfield. Geneva, Flowerdale, Dorrington. Xora-
ville, Monterey, Meonond. Pleasant Valley, Old St. Stephens, and the Be-
s^inning and End of Arago. Which at One Time Had a Population Right
Around Fifteen Hundred and Which Now Boasts of a Bare Half Dozen
Families.

CHAPTER XXI\— SIDELIGHTS OX COCXTY HISTORY

This Ouglit to Prove One of the Most Interesting Chapters in the Book,
for Here -\re Given at First Hand Xumerous Stories of the Old Days, Pre-
serving the Recollections of the Pioneers With Respect to a Xumljer of the
Most Interesting and Important Events in the Early Days of the Settlement
of the County; a Symposium That Will Prove of Incalculable Value to
Those Who in After Years May Feel Called On to Compile a Later History
of the County.

CHAPTER XX\— SOME PROMIXEXT PIOXEERS

For the Information of the Present Generation There Are Presented Here
a Xumber of Brief Biographical Sketches of Some of the Sturdy Pioneers
Who Helped' to Bring This Region to a Habitable State and Make Clear a
Way for the Enjoyment of the Many Blessings of a Settled Social Order:
Included in This Distinguished Roll Being Such Xames as Those of John

B. Didier. David Thomas Brincgar. Jonathan J. Marvin. Jesse Crook. David
Kinney, Francis L. Goldslierry. David Dorrington, David R. Holt, Thomas

C. Cunningham. James Henry Lane. Fulton Peters. Antoine Barada, James
Robert Cain. Sr., David L. Thompson, DiUard Walker, Mrs. Mary S. Quick.
James I,. Overman and Others.

APTER XXVI— REMIXISCEXCES OF A \\AY1AKER

In This Exceedingly Interesting and Engaging Bit of Autobio.graphy Writ-
ten by the Hon. Isham Reavis in 1909 the Reader \\"\\\ Find One of the
Most Entertaining and Informative Collections of Reminiscences of the Old
Days in Xebraska That Has Ever Been Written, Including References to
the Days Back "in the Beginning of Things" When This Region Was as
Completely Isolated From the World and Civilization as Was Alaska at the
I )i)cniiig of the Past Century.

,\PTI-:R XX\-il— HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Here Are Collected a Series of Valuable Reminiscent Papers From the
Hands of Such Pioneers as David Dorrington. E. H. Johnson, William
Witherow. Jesse Crook, Thomas F. Brown. Isaac Crook. William G. Goolsliy.
J. C. Lincoln. F.lisha Dorian and Antoine Barada Relating to Incidents of llie
Early Days.

APTl'lR XX\II1- MISCELL.WEOUS MATTERS OF IXTEREST __

In This Concluding Chai)tcr There Are Presented, Just as Its Title Indi-
cates. Several Matters of Engrossing Local Interest That Fit In Well to the
(General Scheme of the Book, Covering Details of Pioneer History Xot
1-Usewhere Touched On; Typical Tales of Pioneers Told First Hand and
Thus Informative to a Degree Xot Possible of Attainment by One Who
Has Merelv Heard Them Instead of Having Lived Them.

HISTORICAL INDEX

Adventurous llomcseekcrs 101 .

Agricultural Development 282

Agriculture and Stockraising — 253-291
Alfalfa No Longer an l'"xperiment_ 250

Altitude 3-4

Alumni of Falls City High School, 341
Alumni of Humboldt High School. 351
American Pioneer, a Distinct Type 99

Apple Orchards 265-27(i

Arago Precinct —

Early Settlers from P.uffalo 198

Establishment of 148

Old Pork-packing Plant 198. 055

Population of 211

Seat of Early iMetropolis 429.577

Settled in 1858 198

Arago. the Old Town of-293. 429, 577. 585

Archer Camp Meeting Grove 195

Archer, Old Town of—

Backset in 1856 220

First County Seat 219

First Settler 199

Incorporation of 212

Made County Seat 149

Promoters of 220

Old Cemetery, the 22^

Seat of Government Departs 199

Townsite Vacated 153

When Laid Out loS

Who Laid It Out 578

Ara1)ility of Land 34

Area of County 34.30

Area of the State of Nebraska 97

Auto Enlarges Social Life 289

Automobile, the .i22

Average Size of Farms 01

Awakening of the Farmers 240

Banks and Banking 472-480

Barada. Antoine 252. 7.i5

Barada Precinct —

Boundaries of 190

First Settled by Frencli 190

Old Home of Governor Morehead 192

Old Settlers of 192

Population of 211

Story of .\ntoine Barada 19(1

The King Settlement 192

Bar of Richardson County 440

Base Line Established 12''

Battle with Missouri Bandits 492

Beef Cattle 259

Beginning and End of .\rago 585

Bench and Bar. the 449-471

Bitter County-Seat Feud 169.700

■•Black Land" Farms .>5

lilizzards ___025. 710

"Bloody Flux" l'ro\es l-'.piclemic 110

Bluffton 240

Bohemian Benevolent Association. 118
Bohemian Settlement at Hunilxddt Ho

Bonded Indelitedncss 214

"Boomers" Face Ruin 10)

Boundaries of County 30. 134. 143

Boundary Road, Marking ..f 145

Breckenrid.ge 581

Brinegar. David Thomas 608

Broady. Judge JetTerson H 4.56

Brown. John 113,028

Brown. Thomas F. 721

Bruun Memorial Li1)rary 551

Buffalo's Service to Indians 87

Building Stone Plentiful 34, .i5

Burbank, John A 501, O.W

Burchard. Dr. C. T 428.442

Butler. Gov. David 166.001

(.ain. James Rclicrt. Sr O/S

tharters of N'illagcs 2\2

Chaiitauquas -287

Cluap Land in ICarly Days 202

ClK.lera. Visitation of 443.594

Christmas Day Anioni; IMon'eers 735

Clnirches of Ricliardson County-373-4(l3

City Physicians 44(1

Civilization Restores Timber 33

Civil War, the . 487

Claim "Jumping" in I'arly Days 110

Clerk of District Court 17li. 4()7

Climatic Conditions 01

Coal Formerly Mined in Speiscr — 2(17

Comc-to-Sunday-School Day 299

Coming of the Railroad 295

Commercial Orchards in County-- 25ii
Commodore O'Grady's Shrewd Deal 12(1

Commissioner System Adopted 188

Company D. Fifth Nebraska 50(1

Company ¥.. Fifth Nebraska 494

Completion of First Railroad 303

Conservation of Orchards 275

Contrary Creek 205

Contrast with the I'ast 239

Corn and Wheat Conditions 253

Corn Used for Fuel 287

Coronado's Expedition 8fi

Coroners 183.439

Costly Railway Bridge 239

Cottage Grove 591

County Agricultural Society 205

County Attorneys 189, 4()8

County Bar Association 470

County Buildings l(v4. 507

County Clerks 171

County Coinniissioncrs 181

County Fairs _205. 281

County Insanity Conmiission 44(1

County Medical Society 44(i

County Officers. Roster of-. .171-189

County. Organization 133-153

County, Original Boundary of.. .130-143

County Physicians 44(1

County Seat I'llcction Contested... IijO
County Seat. Location of 1.54-170. .^07. 700

County Seat War 109. 7(!:i

County's Name. Origin i)f 133

Ct.unlv Surveyors 183

County Treasurers 17ij

Courts and Lawyers 449-471

"Crime of Agriculture." the 267

Crook, Jesse.. -103. 106. 169. 205. 246.

250. 561, 625. 650, 671. 715

Crop Conditions Set Out 36-62.254

Cunnin.gham, Thomas C, 6/5

Curriculum .>f Public Schools .»3

Dairying, Live Stock and P..ultry.. 259
Dalbey. J. L. 418

Davidson. Judge Samuel Presley— 455

Dawson Mills, the 121

Dawson. Town of —

Coming of Railroad 563

Karly Settlers of 562

Historical Sketch 561

Newspapers 572

Old Settlers .\ssociation 568

Physicians 436

Population of ■— 213

Schools and Churches .569

\\'hen Surveyed 5(>4. 571

Dean of the Bar 405

Defunct Towns of the County 575

Deserted \'illage of Arago 590

Development of Modern School 327

Didier. John B 114. 6o5

Died Within Sight of Help 028

Disastrous Fires at Stella 230

District .\ttorneys 189

Distressing Railway .Vccident 30 i

District Schools of County i5S-272

District School Teachers .?71

Dividing Line between States 129

Dorian. lUisha 731

Dorrin.gton, Postoliice ..f .5S3

Dorrington, "Cncle" David 518.

011.673.711

Dorrin.gton. William 1'. Oil

Drainage System 34, 58, 276-281

Duel l)etween Lawyers 46^'

Dundy, Judge I'.lmer S 221.452

IHinkard Cdony, the 122

Karly (.-harters ..f \ iUa^e. 212

l-.arlv Indian Histnrv 731

HISTORICAL INDEX.

ICarly Judges of IClection 157

ICarly Legislative .\cts 148

I'^ai-ly Marriage Roonrds 24S

I'arly Political Items 71:-:

ICarly Schools, Crude ICc|iiipnieiit of 32o

I'.arly Settlement of County 99-132

Early Surveys of County 125

ICarthquake of 1866 594

"ICconomy" Measure Defeated 185

Educational i2b-i71

l-:iUton Postoffice 581

IClniore 58(1

ICngineer's Cool Presence of Mind- 316

Epidemic of 1860 110

■■ICvery Man His Neighbor" 288

ICxcursion to Atchison 315

ICxplorer's Mistaken Conclusion 9(1

Extortion of Steanilioat Lines 19/

Falls City High School Alumni 341

Falls City Precinct —

Boundaries of 194

I'-Stablishment of 19i)

Falls of the Nemaha 194

Loree Bridge, tlic 195

Old Indian Village 195

I'opulation of 211

Town of Falls City 190,501

Walnut Creek 195

Falls City Rifle Club 494

Falls City, the County Seat—

P)eautiful for Location 501

Court House \'ictory 162

Creation of County Scat 507

First House in 1^1

Hinton Park 514

Hotels 517

Incorporation of 135

Industrial Concerns 533

In Retrospect 504

In 1870 509

Library Association 521

Modern Improvements 502

Municipal Improvements 503. 528

Naming of _ loo

Newspapers _ 407

Physicians 432

Population of 211.213

Falls City — Continued —

Postoffice 520

Public Schools 336

Secret Societies 518

When Laid Ofif 196

Falls of the Nemaha 194

Farmers Mutual Insurance Company 486

Farmers Union, the 289

Farming and Cattle Raising 253-291

Farming, Methods of 260

Farm Labor. Adequate Supply of„ 261

Farms. Size and X'alue of 262

Father's Heroism Saves Family... 627

Fa\ored Sites of Early Homes 280

Fenton. William 561.003

Fertility and Quality of Soil 34

Fine Future for Farmers 290

Fire Destroys Flour-Mill 229

Fires at Falls City 515

First Bohemian Settlement 116

First Case in County Court 459

First Census and Polling Places 137

First Cluirch in County 373

First Circus at Arago 593

First Commercial ( )rcliard 257

First County ( Xlicers 134.220

First Couple Married 220

First County Seat 149

First Court House 104.507

First Court in Log House 252

First Election in County 134.155,220

First Events, a Series of 245-252

First Flour-Mill in the County— 204. 246

First French Settlement 114

First Funeral in County 247

First Governor's Reception 166

First trrand ]\.\vy 461

First Harvest, the 107

First Homeseckcrs, the 101

First Licensed Ferry 290

First Locomotive \Velcomed ,306

First Mail Carrier and Banker 250

First Mill Dam Authorized 148

First Ne1)raska Regiment 489

P^irst Newspaper in County 404

First Newspaper in Falls 'city._._ 410

First School at F'alls City 33o

First School at Humboldt 349

First School in County 246,355,614

First Settler at Archer Grove 199

HISTORICAL INDEX.

First Settlors of County H'i

First .Steamboat, the 89

First Survey in Territory 125

First \'aluation of Property 139

First White Men to \'isit this Re-
gion 89

First W'oman Mail Carrier 251

Flood of 1858. the 711

Flowerdale .583

Forays with "Jayhawkers" 112.749

Forney, the Rev. John 12.^

Four Eras of Development 101

Franklin Precinct 146

Franklin. Town of .596

Frauds Practiced on Indians 82

Freighting in the Old Days 297

French Explorers Early on Scene. 89

■'Front Door" of County 238

Geneva 218, 582. 597

Geology of County 33-62

Goolsby, Uncle Billy 200,696.720

Grain Farming Takes the Lead 254

Grant Precinct—

Dawson Mills 20()

Elements of Wealth 206

Compliment to General Grant — 205

Population of 211

The Miles Ranch 206.263

Grasshopper Period, the 6.^0

Great American Desert, Solitude of 105

Great Nemaha River 34. 194. 21 IS

Great Plains, the .- .53

"Gretna Green" of Pioneers 220

(irnvcs and Orchards ii. 2bS

. Half-1'.reed Tract, the 125. 1. in

Hamilton, the Rev. William 799

Hardships of Pioneers 104,715

Harrison, Frank .\ 621

Haskins, Miss Eunice 227, 646

Hay Crops 255

Highway of Gold Seekers 95.278

Highways and Railroads 214.292

Historical Sketches 711

Hogs 2S^'

Holt. David R (.74

Homesteaders, the 102,206

Horses 259

Horse Thieves 470

Horticultural Society 258

Howe. Ed. W. 408

Huml)oldt, City of —

As an Early Market 203

Business Interests 538

Churches 387, 539

City Government 539

Distinguishing Features 555

Early Events 543

Early Settlers 540,557

Glimpses of in 1873 544

Lodges 553

Naming of 542

Newspapers 412, 539

Physicians 4.34

Population of 211

Puldic Library 551

Public Utilities 538

Schools 348, 539

Humboldt Precinct-
Boundaries of 217

City of Humboldt 538

Estaldishment of 146

Petition for Organization 217

Hunting the Buffalo 752

Incorporation of Humbcddt 540

Incorporation of Towns 216-244

Indian History 63-84,731

Indians Troublesome 615

Indomitable Spirit of I'ioneers 105

Industrial Statistics 214

Industries at County ,Seal 533

In the Days of the Indians 63-84.731

Inundation of 1858. the 711

Iowa Indiana Reserve (i4

Iowa Indians, Number .if SI

Irish Pioneers, First Ccdony of 119

Iron Monument, the 129

.u, Sewell R
nvkers," the
y-Cake Ridge
Hon. Cass—

170,407,416,705
.112,612,743,749
201

740, 747

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Jones, William M., the Story of 740

Journal of Lewis and Clark 92

Judges of County 173, 181. 408

Judicial Reapportionment 436

"Jumping" of Claims Resisted 110

Kansas-Nebraska Act, the 98. 10(j

Kansas. Territory of 95

Kinney. David 672

Kinsman of Abraham Lincoln 234

Kirk. Abel D. 404

Ladies Research Club 231

Lad Stolen by Indians 191

Land Rentals 61

Land Speculators a Detriment 201

Lane. James Henry 675

Large Farms in County 262

Last County Scat Election 160

Law Cases of Another Day 459

Laws Relating to Drainage 277

Legislative Representation 139

Lewis and Clark Expedition 90

Liberty Precinct —

Boundaries of 203

I'arly Settlers of 204

Population of 211

Subdivided in 1869 203

Village of \'erdon 204

Library at Falls City 521

Lincoln, J. C. 234,248,728

Local Man Constructs Early Auto- 322
Local Nomenclature. Comment on._ 206
Location of County Scat-154-170, 507, 700

Location of Tovvnsites 213

Long, Major Stephen 89

I.oree Bridge, the 195

Louisiana Purchase, the 93

Lynch Law 470,694

Maddox, Margaret M 735

Magnificent View from Salem 235

Mail Delivery and Telephones 215

Mail Routes and Post Roads 638

Maple Grove Cemetery 247

Margrave Ranch, the 264

Mark Twain Has His Say 294

Martin. Charles 115,713

Marvin, Jonathan J 670,708

Medical Profession, the 428

Medical Societies 445

Meek-Davis Tragedy, the 168,651

Memories of Other Days Recalled

225, 236, 282. 603,611

Meonond 584

Messler's Fife Band "Hails the

Chief" 167

Methods of Agriculture 260

Middleburg 208

Miles Ranch, the 263,585

Miles, Stephen B 206.250,298

Military History 487-500

Miscellaneous Matters 73}

Missionaries Early on the Ground 7S

Missionary's Life Threatened 81

Missouri, Territory of 94

Modern District School 328

Monterey 203, 584

Monument, the Iron 129

Morehead, Gov. John H 192

Mortgage Indebtedness 659

"Most Sanguine Hopes Realized"-- 162
Muddy Precinct —

Boundaries of 201

ICast and West Divisions 201

Establishment of 147

Population of 211

Stella and Shubert 202

Municipalities of County 211

Mythology of the Sauk 77

McC.iy, the Rev. Isaac 78

McKesson. Jolm C 592

Native Timljer Growth Restored— 33

"Nebraska," a Poem 99

Nebraska, Origin of Name 656

Nebraska Territory, Creation of— 96, 139

Nemaha Falls, the Town of 218

Nemaha Precinct —

.\bundanee of Stone 209

Colonized l)y Swiss 209

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Xeniaha Precinct — Continued —

Named for River -W

Population of -H

"Rattlesnake" District ^W

Well Watered -^"S

Well's Mills -"9

New Board of Commissioners 1S8

News Items in 1864 421

Newspapers of Richardson Coutny.

404-427

Xims City, the \illagc of 241

Noraville 57.1 .-iH-l

Ohio Precinct-
Archer Grove IW

Estahlishment of 148

First Settlement in County 199

Old Town of Archer 199

Population of -H

Official Directory of 1804 42(1

Old Archer Cemetery 222.22?:

Old Coal Mining Company 252

Old Fair Grounds 205.281

Oldest House in County <W

Old Pork-packing- Establishment _- 198

Old Settlers Association -iti8

Old Settler's Feat of Strength 191

Old Settler's Notion of a "Living".- 204
"Old-Timers in Newspaperdoni"--- 418

Old-Time Teacher's Story .^34

Old Village of St. Stephens 24,=;

"Orcharding," by A. J. Weaver 2o,^

Organization of County l.W-l.^,i

Organization of Precincts 140

Organization of School Districts— .i.^,5

(Jrganization of Townships 190-21.i

Original Boundary of County 1.36. 14.i

Origin of Place Names 200

Otoe Indian Lands 9.1

Overflow Lands, Drainage of 276

Overland Freighting 297

Overman, James L "80

Padonia. Battle of 'i41

Paradise for Nomadic Indians W

Parochial Schools -"0

i>-,,.ii..,. ("iiiinlv 14.5

Pawnees, the — '"

Peora S«-

Pension Surgeons -1-*"

Peters, Fulton 67(i

Physicians at Falls City 4.52

Physicians of Richardson County-- 428

Pioneer Banking Methods 472

Pioneer Exploits 7.i.i

Pioneer Funeral -*-'

Pioneer Mothers, a Tribute to 2'JI)

Pioneer Recollection 225, 23()

232, 603, 611

I'ioneers of Huinl...UU .557

I'ioneers of Kichanls.m County-l()2. 247

Pleasant N'alley ■'^85

Plum Creek Mission, the 84

Population Statistics 211.21.1

Pork Packing in the (^Id Days 198

Porter Precinct —

l-:arly Mail Facilities 203

Establishment of 14*1

Location and llonndaries 202

Monterey ^(^13. 384

Named for First Settler 202

Organization of -1"

Population of -H

Town of Humboldt 203.5.58

i^ostoffices and Post Roads ''<i3

Postoffices in 1864 420

Pottery of Prehistoric Origin 71

Powder River E.xpcdition, the 751

Prairie Fires 33, oH)

Prairies, Appalling Vastness of 105

Prairie Sod, the Breaking of 117,121

Precincts, Organization of 140

Prehistoric Times 0.5-84

Present County Officers 189

Preston, Town of —

In the Old Indian Days 241

Old Shippin.g Point 2-iO

Original Name "Bluffton" 240

Population of ^13

Preston Picnic Grounds 31.i

Primitive Methods of Travel 2):<'^>

Principal Money Crop, the 2.=i4

Probate Judges 172

Products of the Dairy 2.59

Prominent Pioneers '>'>5

Prospective Settlers Impatient ^X'

Prosperity of Farmers -525

(JuacUs and Charlatans 44-4

Quaint Marriage Contract 249

Quality uf Soil .54

Quarries of First-class Stone 3-i. 209

Quick, Mrs. Mary 080

Kailroad Bonds Contriiversy 242 Kural M

Railroads and HiKhways__-_' 214.292 ''^i'"''' ' ''

Railr.iad I'rojects Numerous ,502

Kailr..ad's Completion t'elel. rated- 1()7

In .Steamlioat Days 29.5

Original Residents 2,59

Physicians of 4,5.5

Population of 211

Rich in History 2.5K

Schools and Churches 240

When Laid Out 2.5K

Rural H..me lluilding 284

Railroad Surgeons 440 Sacs and Fo.xes 6.5,19-1

Raper, Judge John llutler 457 Salem Collegiate Institute .5,5(.

Rattlesnake District 210 Salem Precinct —

Rcavis. David D 37,^ Building Stone 20.-

Reavis. Hon. Isham 166, 225, 427. I'.arly Settlement of 20-1

46.5.081 I'.stablishment of 14'-

Recollections of Jesse Crook O.-O First Flour-Mill in County 204

Relating to .\griculture 25,5-291 Settled liy Missourians 205

Relics of a Prehistoric Race 07 \ illage of Salem 204

Religion of the Indians 8,' Salem, Town of—

Religious .\ctivities .57.5-40.1 Conditions in 1857 204

Reminiscences of a Wayfarer 081 l.arly Trading Post 2.54

Richardson. William .\ 9o. 1,5.- Clim'pses into the Past 2.5o

River Towns of the ( )ld Days 29.' lnc,u-p<, ration of 148

Rock Island Highway, the .50(1 Made County Seat 1,50

Roll of the Bar 400 Physicians of 4,57

Roll of the First Settlers— 102 Population of 211

Roster of Company 1"., Fifth Present Status of 2,55

Xe])raska 497 Promoters of 2.5.5

Roster of County Officers 171-189 .Sauk Indians 7o

Rotation of Crops 261 Schocds and l-".ducatioii 326-.572

Rouleau. Charles 110.190.2.58 Scho.d Teacher "Skips" ,5o.5

Rulo Precinct^ Second County Seat l-.lection 155

Boundaries of 19o Second Xeliraska I'axalry 491

F.stablishmcnt of 148 Seimering. F. W. i62

Former Indian Reservation 197 Series of First l".\ents 245-252

Founded by Charles Rouleau 19<] Settlement of County 99-1.52

Order of Court Regarding- 219 Settlers' Claims. Register of 12."

Physicians of 4.5.5 Shasta 57'-'

Population of 211 Sheep 25"

Rulo, Town of— Sheriffs 178. 4o7

I'.cautiful for Location 2.58 Shooting Matches in Old Days 205

Fifty Years .\go 68.5 Shroycr, J. O., Reminiscences of— 2"^!

.'Front Door" of County 23S Sluibert. Town of—

How and Why Named 238 .\dniirah1e for Location 2.',7

Incorporation of 142 Commerce and Industry 237

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Sliubert — Continued —

Many Substantial Homes -'37

I'opulation of 213

Schools anil Churches 238

Sidelights of County History 603

Silver Creek Community 122

Sioux and \Vinnel)a80CS 03

Skalak, Wenzel 117

Slave Auction Broken Up 749

Smith, the Rev. James S 33-1

Social Conditions in Old Days 288

Soil Survey 36-62

Soil, \'arieties of 35

South Fork of Xcmaha 207

Spanish-American War, the 493

Spanish Explorations 8.5

Speculation in Townsites 108

Speiser Precinct —

Ample Water Supply 207

Coal Formerly Mined 207

Early Settlers 207

Establishinent of 146

Old Middleburs 208

Population of _^ 211

Springfield 582

Springs of ExCL-llent Water 20(1

Stage Coaches 301

State Board of Health 441

Statistics Relating to Banks 474

Statistics Relating to Schools 329

Steamboat Days in Richardson 292

Steamboat, First on the Missouri— 89
Stella. Town of —

Coming of the Railroad 321

Commercial and Professional 232

Early Industries 229

First Church 229

First School 228

How and Why Named 231

Interesting History of 227

Newspapers 415

Physicians 439

Population of 213

Public Schools 369

When Incorporated 228

When Organized 227

Story. Stephen __116. 738

Strausville. tlie \illage of 241

St. Stephen- (11,1 'r..w., of .599, C45

St. Stephens Precinct —

ICstablishment of 147

How Named 11(.

Now Part of Barada 193

Old Village of 245

I'etition for Organization of 217

Population of - 211

Postoffice of Williamsville 193

Stumbo, Francis M 619

.Stuml)o, James L 501

Stumps Station 579.598

Subscription Schools 326

Sunday School Association 395

Superintendent of Instruction 181

Supervisors 184

Surgeons in World War 447

Surgery, Past and Present 442

Survey of Soil Conditions 36-62

Surveyors Erect Iron Monument 129

Surveys of Richardson County 125

Swiss Colonists Early on Ground- 209

Tabic Rock, the 621

Taxes Collected in 1857 141

Teachers Institutes 332

Teachers. Wages of 331

Telephones and Mail Delivery 215

Territorial Legislature. Acts of 148

Third County Seat Election 156

Thompson, David L 679

Timlier Growth Restt)red 3.i

Tinker. Hon. (J. J 542

Tisdell, D. A 2M,

Toll Bridge Early Established 251

Topography of County 33-(iJ

Towle, Hon. Edwin S 4()5

Township Sectional Divisions 131

Townships, Organization of 190-215

Towns, Incorporation of .216-244

Townsitc Locations 213

Trackless Wilderness, the 105

Transportation in Old Days 292

Travel by Primitive Methods 2>i'i

Treasurer of County.- 17(i

Treaties with Indians 04,95

Trials and Adversities of Pioneers 105
Tributaries of th<- Great Nemaha— SS

HISTORICAL INDEX.

L- to I'ionci-r
Hanging A\
1 Talc of tl

U
■■L'ikUtht..,,.,,! Railr,.a,l," tlu- 11,?

\accination in Old Days -t4i

Valleys First Attract Settlers ,1.1

\'alues of Farm Lands (il

\erdon, Town of —

Contented Residents 2-44

ICarly Legal Scinahl.lc 24-'

Location of 241

Original Tlat Filed 242

Physicians 4.iiS

Population of 213.242

X'illa.ge Government 242

\icw into Three States 23X

Xillage Charters 212

X'oting Precincts, Kstablisliment of 14(j

\Vages of Teachers 331

Waggener, Dr. J. A 434,441

Walker, Dillard ,y9

Water Power in the Old Days 531

Waterworks at Falls City 530

Wealth of Richardson County 058

Weaver Brothers' Farms.--, 262

XX'caver. Judge .Archibald j 455

Weber. Daniel H 182,326

Welsh Colonists 645

Wlieat anil Corn Conditions 253

Whisky Ruin of Indians 83

Wicked Fraud of Surveyors 690

•\\ ild-Cat" Money 108

Wild Game and Fish 653

Wilhite. Mrs. J. R 608.625

Williamsville 193

Winnebago, the Town of 216, 578

Withee, Francis 633

World War. the 494

Y
Yankton 57o, 597

Z
Zulek. Charles lid

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

Ahern, John 880

Allemend, Eugene 984

Allison, Cyrus X., D. D. S 1358

Atkins. Martin B. 1411

Atwood, Theodore G. 1172

Auxier. Edward E. 1168

Auxier. Xathaniel D. 1287

Aycrs. Oliver C. 960

Bacon. Alfred G. 1080

Uahr. l->ed 1228

Barlow, Stephen C. 770

Bates, William R. 1237

Bauer, John H. 1398

Baync, Samuel H. 938

Becker, August B. 821

Billings, Lewis M. 951

Bloom. Jacob 1137

Bloom, Joshua 1021

Bobst. Samuel B. 1037

Bolejack. Emery E. 1001

Boose. William R.. M. D 893

Bowers. Emerson L. 1256

Bowers. Impertous M. 1236

Bowker, George 1140

Bowker. Thomas G. 1184

Boyd. Hugh E. 788

Brandow, William M. 1133

Brecht, Conrad 1309

Brecht, Fred 1416

Brecht, Henry 1166

Bucher, Fredrick, Sr. 1052

Burns. James W. 1350

Butler. William F. 1016

Cade, William 1333

Campbell. Xewton C. 1147

Church, Frank E. 1143^.

I lark. Isaac S. - 1220

Colglazier, William S. 1266

Coons. John H. 1032

looper, Orrin A. 1248

Cornelius, Joseph K. 784

loupe. Richard A. 1351

Crook. Guy A. 1383

Crook, John A 1383

I rook. Hon. William H. 1230

CuUen, Joseph W. 1204

Cummings. Edward W. 1213

Cunningham, Thomas C. 901

iJaeschner, Henry 1253

Davis, Henry C. 973

Davis, Jairus S. 1092

Davis, James B. 1123

Davis, Levi L. 864

DeMcrs. Xapoleon 1006

Dennis. Prof. David 971

Deweese. Lena 10(M

Didier, John B 976

Dorrington, David 1284

Dorrington, William E. 1319

Draper, William I. 1063

Duerfcldt. Gustav W. 795

Durl'ee. Edmond J. 1128

Durfee, Edward E 920

Durfee. Mark J. S40

Duryea. Elva J. 1264

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

l-.asley, Williiim D. 1346

ICbel, Albert 818

l-.els. Hiram E.. D. D. S 982

lulwards, Lewis C. 1353

Kickhoff, Joachim U 992

i:is, Frank . 950

Else, William H 1232

J'.vans, John M, 862

reverts. James S 1339

lalloon, Edwin >76

1-ankhauser. John 957

l'"ellers, Hon. .\ugnstns H. llSt!

Ich. Charles 1067

lonton. William T 1192

I'crgus, Ernest S 1019

I'indlay, John 823

I'-inck, Lonis 1258

I'ischer, Herman A. i:95

I'isher, Chester A 1409

lonts, Roy W., M. D 1345

I'lanklin. Allen 904

l-riend, Morris 1289

l-imk. George 1". 1077

Gandy, George G., M. D 948

(;el)hard, Charley M. 1283

Gerdes, Henry 1259

Gergens. Peter M 871

Gerweck. Wendelin 1321

Giannini, Marino 1194

(.ill.ert, J. Edward 1075

Gird, George 1392

(.ist, Thomas J 1377

Goctz, William 970

Greene, John M.. M. D 875

Gridley. Charles 1! 1096

(irinstead. Koliert E. 1267

Gutzmer. Cieorge 1407

llaeffele, Fred 1134

llanika, -Anthony j. 925

Harden, Emerson A 1224

llargrave. Charles G. 947

Harding, Merrick W. 1251

llarkendorff, I'rederick H. 1365

Harkendorff, John F. 1382

Harrah, Jess R 867

Harris. Isaac W 1200

I larshbargcr, Reuben 879

Hasler, Rev. Paul 1311

Hays, Edward R., M. D 910

Hays. Michael L 1100

Heacock. Hon. Philo S 1360

llebenstreit. Frank A. 1012

Heim, Israel L. 1061

I leim, Jacob S 1034

Heim, John 1087

Heim. Jonathan W, 1085

I leim, Joseph G. 1331

Heim, Samuel F. 945

lleinenian, Fred W. 1294

Iklfenbein, John C. 810

I lellmann, John W. 826

Henderson. Charles G. 1222

Herbstcr, William 1401

Jlessler. Paul 935

Hews. J. Abner 988

Hews. William S. 1182

Higgins. Daniel 1070

Hill. Elijah C, Jr. 1108

Hill, Marshall N. 861

Hill. Reuben J. 997

Hill, Roland M. 932

Hillyard, James S. 944

Hoffman, Rev. John J. 1110

Holland, George W. 1336

Holland. John H. 928

Holt. George P.. 975

Holt. John W. 780

Holt. William R. 891

Horn, Christian 1226

Horton, Joseph O. 1150

Hustead. Charles I... M. D. 900

Hutchins, Warren 1341

llutchings, John H. 1356

James, Richard C. 820

James, William W. 1125

Jenne. William \V. 1117

Jones, Hon. Cass 1185

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Jones, William G. 1102

Jorn, Christian A. 1107

Judd, Xorman B. 838

Kammerer, Christian 1176

Kanaly, Jeremiah 829

Kean, David 1026

Keeling, Major William H 1104

Keim, Albert R. 1120

Kelly, James 1362

Kelly, James F., M. D. 851

Kelly, Martin 1247

Kelly, P. J. 1406

Kentopp, William F. 1238

Kirk, Homer D. 1136

Kinimel, Samuel 977

Korner, Wilson S. --•- 843

Kors, George E. 1088

Koso, John H. 954

Kotouc, Frank, Jr. 800

Kotouc.Otto 981

Knight, Ward K.' 898

Kupcr, 1-ienry H. 1164

LcClere. George W. 1219

Lewis, Daniel D. 1000

Lewis, George W. 1095

Lewis. Ellis O. 941

Leyda, W. S. 1315

Lihhee, Elijah T. : 1048

Lichty, John 854

Lietzke, William L. 1400

Linn. Claude M. 918

Lord, Joshua S. 802

Lichty, Samuel 1374

Loree, Charles 816

Lord, Charles A. 1379

Luni, Clyde V. 1216

Lundy, James W. 952

l.yford, Victor G. 877

Lynch. Thomas 11. 1074

McCarthy, Dennis 966

McMahon. Matthew 1244

McMiillen. .Mcxander R. 1179

Maddox, Wilson M. , 845

Madowsc, Christ. 790

Majerus. Jacob 872

Mann, Leonard R. 1146

Marburger, Lewis F. 1139

Margrave, James T. 1387

Marcjrave, William C. 1202

Marsh, Orion O. 1344

Marsh. William S. 1208

Martin, Charles H. 930

Martin, William 1199

Mathers, Edgar R., D. D. S 1082

Maust. Albert 836

Maust. Irvin C. 1338

Mez. Max 1408

Miles, Joseph H. 755

Miles, Stephen B. 1372

Mooncy, John W 1394

Morchcad, Hon. John 11. 1296

Morris, Edward D. 1098

Morrison. Joseph E. 1198

Mosiman. John. Jr 1240

Mosiman. William 1229

Mullen. Barney 1008

Mullen. John C 993

Mun.hy, Patrick F. 1181

Xiemeyer, William G. 1277

Xims, Charles E. 1090

Xims. Frank A. 848

Xims, Joy M. 824

Xitzsche, Frederick E. 827

Xofsger, Louis W. 1047

Xoltc. John H. 1402

Xorton, William e\ 1031

O-Hrien, Father Francis A. 1151

O'Connell, Bryan 1215

Ogle, John ___' 1163

Ogle, Joseph 1072

O'Grady, John 1045

Oswald, William C. 798

Ovcnnan, James 11. 989

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

I 'age

1171

Cleon 1206

•ercival, William 1306

'cters, Fulton "23

Vtersen, Leroy T.. M. D. 121-

'hillips, Clifford F. 1030

'hilpot, John

850

'hi'.pot, Ralph R. 1131

'ittock, Henry P. 1278

•oilard, Perry — 956

•orr. Leopold 1024

'ower, William S. 104O

'rihbeno, Charles F. 1369

'ril>l)cno, Henry F. 1178

'richard, Leander C. 814

'ntnam. William H 1324

Katekin, Daniel 13. 808

Rcavis, Hon. Charles F. 1367

Reavis, David D. 1218

I'teavis. Hon. Isham 760

Kedwood. William L. 841

Rell. Josiah F. 1042

RevcUe, Benjamin F. 1161

Richardson, John H. 1160

Rickards, Charles H. 859

Rieschick, John W 1335

Rieschick, William 1189

Rieschick. Hon. William F 1245

Rife. William M, 1081

Riky. Bernard 1035

Rik-v. Daniel 804

Riky. Dan J 834

Rilcy. Michael 884

Riley, William 10.56

Ivuegsje, Henry L. 783

Ivnnihaugh. Rev. .\ndrc\v J. 1386

Sailors. Washington 1291

.Sailors, William H 968

Schneider, Charles F 894

Schock, Charles H 940

Schock, Frederick H. 959

Scholl, William 779

Schr.uler, Harry H 1242

Schnlenberg, Matthias

Segrist, Louis J.

Shellenbarger, Leonard G.
Shelly, John R.

,.- 1234
-_ 1270
__ 1404
__ 1303

Shildneck, Charles 1142

Shildneck Family, The 1141

Shildneck, Hiram S. 1141

Shildneck, William 1142

Shubert, .\ustin G. 1010

Shubert, Henry W 757

Shubert, James F. 986

Shubert, Williard M, 995

Siemering, Henry 936

Sinianton, Brevet 1304

Skalak, Wenzel 1348

.Slagle, William E — 1389

Slocum, James L. 774

Smith. Charles 1144

Smith, Julius 912

Spicklcr, Joseph W 998

Spragins, Judge John D. 765

Staver, Hon, Hugh O. 1280

Steele, Edwin F. 1152

Steele, Joseph 1152

Steele, Robert Edwin 1152

Stephens, William L. 933

Sterns, Bernard W 1322

Stettler. .•\lfred 980

Stitzcr, Henry 1156

Stoltz, Charles E. 1114

Stoltz, William F. 917

Strawn, Charles A 1112

Suess, Louis U. 1210

807
792

Tanner. Jacob C. 865

Taylor. George E. 852

Thornton. Charles 11.

Tiehen. Herman

Timcrman. Jason 882

Timerman, Romanc 921

Towlc, Edwin H 1326

Towle, John W 130O

Tvnan, Andrew 856

Lhri, Edward —
L'lmer, Martin D.
L'lmer, Emanuel -

1116
90S
106S

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

N'anilevcnter, Morgan H. 868

Wij^ele, lidward C. 1175

\oii r.ergen. J. Louis 906

Waggener. J. A. 965

W'aKKoner, Riley D. 896

Walil, Samuel 1078

Walkiiis. George 1262

Weaver, lion. Archibald J. 1272

Weaver, lion. Arthur J 1328

Weaver, I'aul B 1413

Weber. Daniel H 1020

Weddle, John F ^_ 1028

W eddle. William M 1054

Weick, Charles F. 1044

Wheeler. James M 888

Wheeler. William H. 786

Wiekham, Ernest . 1368

Wilhite. James R. 1014

Wilkinson, Thomas M. 832

Williamson. Charnock W'. 1363

Williamson. J. Rock 914

Wilson, Frank P. . 1,327

Wilson. Lester C. 1022

Wilson. Millard L., M. D. 768

Wiltse. John 874

Windle. Grant L. 1307

Windle. Joseph 1127

AV'issinger. Jacob F. 1317

Wissler. John E. ... 962

Withee. Francis 1058

Wittwer, Frederick lOSO

W'ixon. John W. 1064

VVuster. Christ 1149

Wuster. Thomas I-'. 927

Wyatt. Henry F. 1312

Y
Vutzy. Josei.h C. D. D. S. 885

Zimmermann, Ernest 1399

Zimmermann, Gust. 1415

Zoeller. llenrv C. 1396

HISTORICAL

CHAPTER I.
Topography, Geology, Etc., of Richardson County.

The rolling prairies of wiiich Richardson county is largely made up, are
an alluring feature which did not escape the eye of the early settler in quest
of a home in this new countr}-. The recurring prairie fires of the period
when it was only inhabited by Indians had retarded the growth of the timber
to a great extent in large portions of the county, and those coming across
the Alissouri were so impressed with the openness of the country that it was
long known as a portion of the Great Plains.

It is traversed from west to east by streams of living water, the banks
of which are well timbered. I'pon the coming of the white man and the
breaking up of the soil, the prairie fire disappeared and the trees thus pro-
tected, together with those set out and planted by the thousands, now give
the country the appearance of a woodland and especially is this noticeable
in and about the towns, rivers and creeks, and farm homes- throughout the
county. Tliis fact is now so prominent, that to the traveler passing through
the country nor to those residing therein, does the w-ord "prairie" have any
significance in a descriptive way and indeed it is no longer used in the vocabu-
lary of the people. The prairie in the old sense is gone forever.

The forest gro\-es are made up of box elder, maple, cottomvood. walnut.
oak, elm, ash, hickory and willow. In tlie east end of the county the Mis-
souri river bluffs ha\-e always been and are today heavily overgrown with
timber, and in later \-ears extensive orchards are replacing cleared portions
and rank in ])roducti\'e cai)acit\- and f|u;dity and f|uantity of fruit with the
liest in the I'nitetl States.

The \-alleys and low lantls adjacent to the streams were the first choice
with the early settler and in the earlier years of less rainfall were most
profitablv worked as farms, but the heavv rainfall of more recent vears has

3-1 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

necessitated extensixe drainage s\stems for relief from overtlows. The
uplands or early prairie farms ha\e proven most valuable for all purposes
and are the most desirable of all and most productive at this time.

Inexhaustive quarries of first-class building stone are available in mam-
parts of the county and of easy access near the surface of the ground. Coal
in numerous places over the county has been found, but never, so far. in
sufficient (juantities to ser\e any great number of the people as a fuel.

The lowest altitude is found near Rulo, in the extreme southeast corner
of the county, w here but eight hundred and seventy-five feet above sea level
is registered. Passing toward the northwest and west end of the county a
gradual and gentle rise is noted.

The county is now eighteen miles wide, north and south, and thirty-six
miles long, east and west at the southern, and twenty-seven miles at the north-
ern boundary, containing in the aggregate in round numbers, five hundred and
fifty square miles, or three hundred fifty-two thousand six hundred acres.
The townships, except in the eastern portion are six miles square and con-
tain thirty-six sections, ^^'ithin this area the land is all tillable, except on
the lowest river bottoms, which is now used as pasture and grass lands. So
it may be stated that there is Init a very small per cent of the land which may
not be utilized.

The Great Xemaha rixer. which traxerses the southern precincts, east
and west, and empties into the Missouri river near Rulo, in its meanderings,
prior to numerous cut-ofifs made by the drainage ditches to shorten it,
was (iiie lunulred miles long. It is now reiluced to less than half that dis-
tance and is fed by numerous small streams from a \-ast watershed. The
Mudd\- creek drains the east precincts, being fed by many small streams and
empties into the Xemaha in Jefferson precinct.

Tlie most extensive valley is that of tne Great Nemaha, which varies
from one to three miles in width and. being the repository for the rich soil of
the uplands, is most fertile.

QfALITY OF THE SOIL.

Tliere is excellent clay for the manufacture of brick, which on account
of the absence of saw timber and the distance from the lumber regions, has
been extensixely used as tlie principal building material and much of the out-
put is in great demand at points outside the state.

The soil of the hills is perfectlv adapted for fruit culture and extensive
iirchanls of apjjle, of all kinds, peaches, i^ear. plum and grapes are success-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 35

fully grown. The soil is a deep black loam from eighteen to thirty-six inches
in depth. The "Ijlack land farm" is a reality the county over and its well-
known richness, after fifty years continuous usage, precludes the necessity
for fertilization so much in vogue in Eastern states. Small grain of all kinds
is raised in al)undance, and farming here is a pleasure rather than a drudgery,
and well it may be, for the soil is easil\- worked, and the farmer has e\-ery
assurance of a crop annually. 14'? ^ilfifi

TRIia-TARlES OF THE GREAT XEjUA>IA RIVER.

The Great Xemaha river, of Richardson county, enters the Missouri
near the southeast corner of the county and traverses its entire length. The
river forks near the center of the county (near Salem), one branch coming
from the Northwest, called the North Fork and the other heading in Nemaha
county, Kansas, called the South Fork of the Nemaha.

Muddy creek comes also from the northwest, running parallel with the
Nemaha, which it enters four miles east of Falls City.

The principal tributaries of the Nemaha and Muddy in this countv are
Walnut, Long Branch, Four-Mile. Rattlesnake, Easley, Sardine, Half-Breed
and Harvey Creeks.

The Nemaha and Muddy are mill streams, and there is timber imi all
the branches. It will thus be seen that Richardson county is the liest tim-
bered as well as the best watered county in Nebraska.

Good limestone for lime and building purposes abounds on the streams
and coal of good quality has in other days been found on the Nemaha and
its tributaries, the latter in quality as good if not better than that mined suc-
cessfully for years in the \icinity of Leavenworth, Kansas.

The county as a whole is most highly improved and has more
good farms and farmers than any county in the state.

.\11 the grains of this latitude flourish here, and it is without a doulit
the best adapted for fruit, which is now being produced on a larger scale than
in any section of the state.

Both spring and fall wheat do well, and it is doubtful if there be a better
corn-growing region \\est of the Missouri. Oats, rye. ]iotatoes and other
vegetables produce finely.

36 RICHAPDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

SOIL' SURVEY OV RICHARDSON COUNTY.

By A. H. Meyer, of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Stewart, and C. W. Watson, of the Nebraska Soil Sii
D. Rice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA.

Richardson county is situated in the extreme southeastern part of Ne-
braska, about fifty-four miles south of the Platte river. It is bounded on
the north by Nemaha county, on the east by the Missouri river, which
forms the state line, on the south by Doniphan, Brown, and Nemaha coun-
ties, Kansas, and on the west by Pawnee county, Nebraska. The county
is approximately rectangular in shape, with one irregular side, its greatest
length from east to west being thirty-six miles and its widtii from north
to south eighteen miles. It has an area of 545 square miles, or 348.800
acres. The northwestern corner of the county is about seventy miles from
Lincoln and the southeastern corner approximately halfway between Omaha
and Kansas City.

The surface features of the upland, which constitutes far the greater
part of the county, are variable, though in general the topography is rolling.
In the southwestern and extreme western parts of the county the drainage
system is intricate and the surface is marked by numerous steep and pre-
cipitous slopes, largely the result of high rock ledges. The steep slopes occur
largely along the stream courses of the Nemaha river drainage system. How-
ever, there are in this section gently arched divides or plains and gently
sloping areas. The remainder of the county, except the bluff zone along
the Missouri river, is gently rolling to rolling, with no abrupt slopes. The
divides are gently sloping to almost flat, and in a few instances attain the
elevation of the original constructional surface of the loess plains. These
topographic features occur mainly lietween the Nemaha and Little Mudd\-
Creek drainage systems, with their best development in Franklin town-
-ship. In the eastern part of the county the upland merges through a nar-
row strip of hilly land into the Missouri river bluff zone, which in some
places is two and one-half miles in width. This strip is characterized by
V-shaped valleys with a depth of about three hundred and fifty feet. The
roughest and most dissected topography occurs in the northeastern and
southeastern parts of the county.

There are some alluvial terraces in the count)", l)ut tiiey are of \ery
small extent and occur onlv in the southwestern section. Thev varv from

RICHARDSON COrNTY, NEBRASKA. 37

five to ten feet above the present flood plain of the streams. The terraces
are flat, benchHke, and uneroded.

The greater part of the first-bottom land occurs along the Nemaha
river and its branches. The Missouri river flows so near the west side of
the valley that there is scarcely any first bottom along the course in this
stream within the county. The surface of the bottom-land areas is level,
except along the Missouri river, where the topography is relieved by low
ridges with intervening depressions, sloughs, and ox-bow lakes.

The upland has an average elevation of about i,ioo feet abo\e sea
level. The highest point, 1,220 feet, occurs in the northwestern part of
the countv. The average elevation of the bottom land is about 900 feet
above sea level and the lowest elevation is about 850 feet. The general
slope of the county is southeastward.

The Missouri river flows along the eastern boundary and receives the
drainage of the entire county. The Nemaha river is the only tributary
of any consequence, and drains practically all the county. It flows in a
southeasterh' direction through the area. The north fork and south fork
of the Nemaha unite at Salem. Muddy creek is an important branch of
this stream. The Nemaha river and its tributary streams are winding and
rather sluggish, and have reached base level. The Missouri river is navig-
able. The streams in this region are not used for power development.

There is a complete system of drainage ways in the county, and adequ-
ate drainage is provided for all sections. Springs are numerous in the
southwestern part of the survey, and on many farms furnish most of the
water for the stock. All the first bottoms are overflowed annually, but
rarely are the overflows of a destructive nature, and the water seldom re-
mains more than twelve hours on the surface of the flood plain. However,
in the season of 1915, a number of destructive floods occurred, and practi-
cally no crops were harA^ested.

The first permanent white settlements in Richardson county were made
in 1855, about a mile north of Falls City, by settlers from Tennessee. The
county was created in 1854, and reorganized in 1855 by the first territorial
Legislature. When first created the county contained a large part of the
area now included in Johnson and Pawnee counties, but within a few years
it was reduced to its present size. Most of the early settlers came from
Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, and the New England states. Later
some foreigners, including Germans, Swedes, Welsh, Bohemians, Irish, Eng-
lish and French settled in the county. Less than eight per cent of the popu-
lation, however, is of foreign birth.

RICHARDSOX COINTV. NEBRASKA.

The mean annual rainfall of Richardson county is 32.71 inches, the
highest mean annual precipitation recorded in the state of Nebraska. From
seventy-five to eighty per cent, of the rainfall occurs during the growing
season, from April to September, inclusive. About forty-five per cent, falls
during the months of May, June, and July, with the maximum during
July. December, January and February are the driest months, with a total
precipitation of 2.53 inches.

Most of the rainfall in the summer occurs in the form of thunder
showers, and the precipitation is very heavy within short periods of time,
ranging from one inch to six inches in single storms. Something over
one-half the rainfall of May, June, and July occurrs in quantities of one
inch or more in twenty-four hours. The rainfall in May and June usually
is well distributed, and droughts in these months are practically unknown.
In July the distribution is not quite so favorable, though on the average
rain falls at least once every four days during the months of May, June,
and July. During August and September the precipitation is lighter and
less favorably distributed. Periods of drought, of only occasional occur-
rence, are chiefiv confined to July, August, and September. The average
annual snowfall is about twenty inches. Little snow falls Ijefore December
or after March.

The mean annual temperature is about 53" F. January and February
are the coldest months, with an average temperature of about 27 . July
is the warmest month, with an average of "jf. The lowest temperature
recorded at Dawson and Falls City, Nebraska, is 30^ below zero, and the
highest III" F. The average date of the first kilHng fro.st in the fall is
October 8, and of the last in the spring, April 24. The date of the earliest
recorded killing frost in autumn is September 12 and of the latest in si)ring.
May 27. There is an average growing season of about one himdred and
seventv davs, which is sufliciently long for the maturing of all the ordinary
farm crops.

The winds are prevailingly from the northwest. During the mouths
of June. July, and .\ugust, however, they are mainly from the south and
southeast. Tlie average velocity of the wind at Omaha is about nine miles
per hour. Tn storms winds of thirty to fifty miles per hour are common.
Tornadoes are of rare occurrence.

The relative humidity is quite regular, the average for the vear being

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASK.J

about seventy per cent. The humidity is about seventeen per cent, lower
at eight o'clock in the evening than at nine o'clock in the morning. On the
average there are one hundred and seventy to one hundred and eighty clear
days and eighty to ninety cloudy days during the year, the remainder being
partly cloudy.

The following table, compiled from the records of the weather bureau,
gives the normal monthly, seasonal, and annual temperature at Dawson and
precipitation at Dawson and Falls City.

Xoniial Dioiithly. seasonal, and annual temperature at Dazcsoii ami precipita-
tion at Dawson and Falls Citv, Nebraska.

•Tenn>eratnr

-Preciijitati(

Total
driest .vear

Total
wet. year

Mean.

Abs. ma.\-.

Abs. min

Mean

(1901).

(1902),

°F.

Inches.

Inches:. i

Inches.

December

2£».7

— l.T

0.73

0.53

1.38

January

2S.4

—23

.55

.84

Februaiy

25.8

—30

1.05

.81

Winter

28.0

—30

2.53

1.89

2.22

March

41.3

— 2

1.69

2.08

1.25

52.S

May

63.4

5.17

5.20

5.34

Spring:

52.5

— 2

9.74

S.,S3

7.04

June

72 5

104

4 30

'^40

6 73

July

T7.0

111

4.73

1.22 •

12.51

0 5-/

Summer _

75.4

111

12.95

0.20

22.68

September

69.1

100

3.34

2.31

3.97

October

57.5

3.04

3.89

3.79

42.5

— 8

1.11

1.08

2.70

Fall

56.4

100

— S

7.40

7.28

10.52

Year

53.1

111

—.30

32.71

24.20

4.3.06

Upon the basis of physiographic position, the soils of Richardson county
may be divided into three groups, upland, terrace, and first-bottom soils.
The upland group embraces the Marshall, Grundy, Knox, Carrington, and
Shelby series, and Rough stony land; the terrace group includes the Wau-
kesha series; and the first-bottom group the Wabash, Cass, and Sarpy series
and Riverwash.

Practically all the soils are derived from transported material, except

40 RICIIARDSOX COLNTV. NEBRASKA.

most of the Rough stony land. The upland originallj- was covered with a
thick veneer of plains loess, which has been almost entirely removed by
erosion. Where erosion has progressed enough to give rise to a rolling
topography, as in the eastern part of the county, the loess subsoil as well
as soil is loose and friable. Along the bluff line of the Missouri the loess
has been modified by material blown from the sand and silt bars of the
river. The loess beds vary in color from yellow or pale yellow to light
gray, and are always more or less calcareous and blotched with iron stains.
It is thought by the state survey that the plains loess was laid down in
sluggish waters as outwash from the glaciers to the north.

Only two remnants of the original constructional surface remain, ami
they are located in the northwestern part of the county. Owing lo the tlat
to slightly undulating topography in that section, the clay has not been
carried away by rain waters. Init has Ijeen washed down into the subsoil,
forming a hardpanlike layer.

Below the plains loess lies the upjier or weathered phase of the Kansan
drift, which is very similar to the loess. The material is yellowish brown
or pale yellow to light gray, and is smooth and silty, and contains fewer
lime concretions than the loess. It also contains some sand and « few small
pebbles, which are absent from the loess. In a vertical section there is no
well-defined line of demarcation Ijetween the loess and the weathered drift.
However, the loess has a more decided tendency to weather in perpendicular
walls than the drift. The soil derived from this phase of the drift has a
heavier and more compact subsoil than that derived from the eroded loess.

Below the weathered phase of the drift is the Kansan drift proper.
There is a sharp line of demarcation in color and te.xture between these
two divisions. The upper part of the Kansan drift is thoroughly o.xidized,
showing that it has been subjected to weathering. The Kansan sheet is
distinctly till, and consists of a heterogeneous mass of clay, silt, sand, gravel,
and bowlders. The upper part of the till varies in color from yellowish
brown or brown to reddish brown, and the lower part from light gray t'>
pale yellow, with numerous iron stains.

Below the Kansan drift lies the Aftonian material, which consists largely
of stratified sand and gravel, witli a few bowlders. This does hot occur
as a continuous stratum, but as sand or gravel trains. The material outcrops
west and northwest of Humlioldt and northeast of .Salem. It has given
rise to local sandy spots in the drift soils.

The lowest drift sheet, the Xel)raskan, consi.'^ts of lilue clav, contain-

RJ3E.

WtE.

R I,

ftJ3E.

ff.JfE.

Ili.th.

J6E.

R/7K

RJGE.

R.J7E.

HJ8F.

INTY, NEBRASKA.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 4I

ing smell pebbles and large numbers of bowlders. It is exposed only in
deep-cut banks. It may be seen north of Rulo and also west of Rulo in
the railroad cut.

The loess and drift beds lie on a very uneven surface of bedrock belong-
ing to the Pennsylvania division of the Carboniferous system. In many
places the streams have cut through the loess and drift and exposed large
areas of bedrock. Most of these are in the southwestern part of the county.
In the northern and eastern parts of the county, the mantle of rock is from
fifty to one hundred feet deep, with only local outcrops. The upper layers
of the bedrock consist of well-defined beds of shale and limestone; in places
the shale is wholly composed of clay and in other places it grades into
sandstone. The rocks dip northwestward in the southeastern corner of Rich-
ardson county, then flatten out to near Salem, beyond which they are nearly
level in an east-west section, remaining so to a north-south line just west
of Humboldt. Between this line and Table Rock there is a sharp rise of
the beds amounting to about four hundred feet, and some of the formations
exposed in the eastern part of the county are again brought to the surface.
The most important rocks are the Cottonwood, Falls City, .\spinwall, Tarkio,
Preston, Fargo, Burlington, and Rulo limestones.

The lower limestones named above outcrop near Rulo and in an anticline
southwest of Humboldt. The limestones are of use for building purposes,
and are of value in road making. There are about thirty-five square miles
of bedrock exposed, giving rise to a thin, stony soil, seldom more than two
to ten inches deep.

The terraces .of Richardson county are very inextensive. The ma-
terial forming them consists largely of silt, known in the State of Ne-
braska as valley loess. It was deposited at a time when the streams were
flowing at a higher level. The material was largely derived from the plains
loess and finely divided drift debris.

DISTRIBUTION OF ALLUVIAL.

The main areas of alluvial soils occur along the Missouri and Nemaha
rivers, with small areas widely distributed throughout the county. They
are of recent origin and are constantly receiving additional sediments from
the overflow waters of the streams. The material along the Missouri river
represents waste mainly from the glacial and loessial Rocky Mountain and
Great Plains provinces. The soils along the other streams represent re-
worked and deposited loessial and glacial material.

42 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The Marshall series includes types with darJi-brown to black surface
soils and a lighter, yellowish-brown subsoil. This series comprises the dark-
colored upland loessial soils which predominate in the prairie region of the
Central West. The soils are characterized and distinguished from those of
the Knox series by the large quantity of organic matter in the surface soil.
The topography is level to rolling. The series is represented in Richardson
county by a single type, the silt loam.

The soils of the Grundy series are dark brown to black to. an aver-
age depth of about eight inches. The soiL becomes somewhat heavier with
depth, more rapidly as it approaches the subsoil. The transition from soil
to subsoil, however, is not abrupt. The upper subsoil is mottled, heavy, and
rather plastic when wet and hard when dry. The mottling consists of
dark drab and yellowish brown. This layer is six to ten inches thick and
passes gradually into material of somewhat lighter color and texture. As
a rule the mottlings are not well defined in the lower subsoil. This series
is derived by thorough weathering from silty material overlying the Kansan
drift. The silt loam is the only representative of this series in the county.

The Knox soils are prevailingly light brown and the subsoil is light
yellow or light grayish yellow. These soils occur mainly in the central
prairie states. They are derived from loessial deposits. The loessial cover-
ing where the Knox series is found is always thick enough to fonn a subsoil
as well as a surface soil, the deeper lying glacial till being far enough from
the surface to have no marked influence on the general character of the
soil. The topography is gently undulating to rolling, and the surface drain-
age is generally good. The silt loam is the only member of the Knox series
encountered in Richardson county.

The Carrington soils are derived through weathering of glacial till,
with little or no modification from loessial deposits. The series is developed
in the central and western prairie region and consists mainly of prairie
soils. The soil generally is black, ranging in some cases to dark brown.
The subsoil is lighter colored, generally light brown or yellowish. The topog-
rapliy is gently undulating to rolling, though some areas are nearly flat.
In Richardson county only the Carrington silt loam is recognized.

The soils of the Shelby series are dark brown to Ijrown ; the subsoil
is a yellow, reddish-yellow or light-brown, tenacious, sandy clay. These soils
are derived from the Kansan drift. Only the Shelby loam is mapped in
Richardson county.

The surface soils of the Waukesha series are dark brown to black,
and the subsoil is yellow. These soils occur in areas of deep glacial drift.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 43

They are derived from water-assorted glacial debris deposited on broad
filled-in valleys or as outwasli plains and terraces. The topograph}- is mainly
flat to undulating. Drainage is good.

The Wabash soils are prevailingly black, ranging to dark brown, and
contain a high percentage of organic matter. The subsoil is brown or brown-
ish gray. These soils occur in the first bottoms of streams in the central
prairie states. They extend for long distances along the Mississippi river.
The material is derived principally from the loessial and associated soils
of the region. The Wabash areas are flat and poorly drained.

The surface soils of the Cass series are dark brown to black. The
subsoil is lighter in color and in texture. These soils are alluvial, and are
most extensively developed in the bottoms along the Mississippi and Mis-
souri rivers and their tributaries. They occur in association with the Sarp}-
soils, occupying, however, areas which are somewhat less well drained, being
subject to overflow. Between the high stages of the streams the drainage
is good.

The soils of the Sarpy series range from light gray to dark brownish
gray or nearly black. They differ from the Wabash soils in having loose,
silty or fine sandy subsoils, distinctly lighter in texture than the surface soils.
The material is alluvial in origin. Owing to their low position these soils
are subject to overflow, although the nature of the soil and subsoil is such
that drainage is thorough to excessive between flood stages of the streams.
In general the topography is flat.

The following table gives the name and actual and relative extent
of each soil type mapped in Richardson county:

Areas of different soils.

Sciil. .Veres. Per Ct. 8oil. Acres. PerCt.

Slielh.v loiini 8.570 2.5 Ciiiriugtou silt lo;iui 162,624 46.5

W:il);isli cla.v 3.136 .9 Wabash silt loam 62,288 19.6

Itiveiwash 1,004 0.5 Marshall silt loam 57.472 16.5

Wtiiikeslm silt loam 1.152 .3 Kough stou.v land 17,408 5.0

Sarp.v very fine sandy loam 960 .3 Wabash silty clay loam 13,568 3.9

Cass <-lay 320 .1 Knox silt loam 12,864 3.7

(Iniiidy silt loam 320 .1 Total 348.800

Sarpy silt loam 2."i0 .1

.MARSHALL SILT LOAM.

The Marshall silt loam is a dark -brown, moderately heavy silt loam,
eight to fifteen inches deep, having a decidedly siuooth feel. It grades through

44 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

a thin brown layer of silt loam, about four inches thick, into yellowish-
brown material, the color changing with increasing depth to yellow. As
a rule the color of the subsoil is uniform, though occasionally the lower
part is slightly mottled with light gray and streaked with rusty iron stains.
The subsoil is open and friable and becomes more so with depth; as a rule
the fourth foot is highly calcareous, the lime occurring chiefly in the form
of concretions. As the color indicates, the soil is high in organic matter.

The depth of the soil is variable, and depends upon the topographic
position. In the flatter areas and on the gently arched divides it is fifteen
to eighteen inches deep, while on the shoulders of hills and along gullies
the depth is only six to eight inches, and often the yellowish-brown subsoil
is exposed. On the lower parts of slopes the soil is darker in color and
deeper, owing to the deposition of colluvial material, and at the foot it is
commonly twenty-four inches or more in depth. Included with this type are
small, narrow strips of colluvial material, occurring along intermittent streams.
Where the Marshall silt loam gives way to the Knox silt loam, small spots
of the latter tj^pe are included. In general, the color of the Marshall silt
loam is lighter where the type adjoins areas of the Knox silt loam.

The Marshall silt loam dififers from the Knox silt loam in having a
higher content of organic matter. It is very difficult to draw a definite
boundary line between the two soils, because of their patchy occurrence
where they unite. In texture and structure the two soils are similar. Both
have the vertical structure and extremely smooth feel characteristic of loess
soils.

The Marshall silt loam occurs as a belt about six miles in width in
the eastern part of the county, running parallel with the Alissouri river bluff.
On the east it gives way to the Knox silt loam, and nn the west to the Car-
rington silt loam.

In general the topography is rolling. Where the type adjoins the Kno.x
silt loam, it is steeply rolling, and where it adjoins the Carrington silt loam
it occupies rather gently sloping divides. In the vicinity of Zion church
and in the area south of Preston the soil has a gently undulating surface.
The drainage is good and the physical condition of the soil is such that it
withstands protracted droughts. Where the slopes are steep there is con-
siderable wash, though less than would be expected on such slopes on ac-
count of the favoral)le texture and structure of the soil. The tyi)e lies
at an elevation of eight hundred and eighty to one thuusand one hundred
and sixtv feet above sea level.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 45

The Marshall silt loam originally supported a thick growth of the prairie
grasses common to this region, but very little of the native sod remains.
Approximately ninety-five per cent, of the type is under cultivation. It
is considered by farmers the best upland corn soil of eastern Nebraska.
About one-half the farm land is devoted to the production of this crop, and
the remainder is largely in wheat and oats, with some clover and timothy
and alfalfa. In average seasons corn yields thirty to forty bushels per
acre, and occasionally as much as sixty bushels. Oats ranks second in acre-
age, and ordinarily yield thirty to thirty-five bushels an acre. The acreage
in wheat is being gradually extended, as the crop has proved very profitable.
Yields of twenty to thirty bushels an acre, and sometimes as much as forty
bushels per acre, are obtained. Clover and timothy and alfalfa are the
principal hay crops, though some millet and sorghum are grown.

In wet seasons clover does well, but in dry seasons it is difficult to get
a stand. In view of this fact, alfalfa is coming more in favor, even though
it does not fit nearly so well in the crop rotation. In favorable seasons
clover yields one and one-half to two tons per acre, while alfalfa yields
three to five tons. Small patches of barley and rye also are produced.
About one-half the corn crop and all the wheat are sold. The remainder
of the corn is largely fed to hogs. The oats and hay produced are chiefly
fed to the work stock. The present tendency on the Marshall silt loam is
to grow less corn, more wheat, and more leguminous crops, and to keep
more live stock. In the vicinity of Shubert there are a number of commercial
apple orchards. The apple does especially well on this type.

At present no definite rotations are followed on this type. The gen-
eral practice is to keep the land in corn from two to three years, oats one
year, and wheat one year, returning the field to corn. Occasionally the
wheat field is sowed either to clover and timothy or to alfalfa. Tenant
farmers pay less attention to the rotation of crops, and often use the same
field for corn or wheat four or five years in succession.

This soil is friable, silty, free from stones, and very easy to handle.
It can be cultivated under a wide range of moisture conditions, without
clodding or baking badly on drying. Though the natural productiveness
of the type is high, it responds readily to good methods of cultivation, ferti-
lization, and the growing of leguminous crops. Only small quantities of
barnyard manure are applied, and no commercial fertilizer is used.

The value of the Marshall silt loam ranges from one hundred ti) two
hundred dollars an acre, depending on location, improvements, and tlie con-
dition of the land.

46 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The Marshall silt loam is a very productive soil and it is only in cases
where the same fields have been devoted to the same crops for a series of
years that the soil has materially deteriorated in productiveness. Deeper
plowing is needed on most farms, and though the type is high in organic
matter, it is advisable to rotate the cereal crops with leguminous crops e\ery
four or five years in order to keep up the organic-matter content. On steep
slopes where erosion is a serious factor the type should be kept in cover crops
as much as possible. The Alarshall silt loam is well suited to the produc-
tion of apples on a commercial scale, and within reasonable distances from
railroad points this industry might be profitably extended.

GRUNDY .SILT LOAM.

The surface soil of the Grundy silt loam is a dark-brown, heavy silt
loam, about fifteen inches in depth. It passes rather abruptly into a very
compact, plastic silty clay of darb color, mottled with yellowish brown. When
dry the upper part of the subsoil is tough and decidedly granular. Below
twenty-four to thirty inches the color as well as the texture becomes lighter
and the structure is more friable. As a rule the mottlings are not so con-
spicuous in the lower part of the subsoil. The soil is high in organic matter,
and as a rule lime concretions are encountered in the lower part of the sulisoil.
The upper subsoil layer is locally called "hardpan."

This soil is very similar to the extensive areas of Grundy silt loam
mapped in Gage county, Nebraska. It appears heavier than that mapped
in Seward and Polk counties, but not quite so heavy as that in Gage count}-.

The type is very inextensive; it occurs as two small areas in the north-
western part of the county, which extend into Nemaha county. It occupies
a high, slightly undulating divide which undoubtedly represents the original
constructional surface of the loess plains. The type is well drained in
normal seasons. In wet seasons the drainage is somewhat deficient on ac-
count of the hardpan layer and in very dr\' years the soil is rather cIroug!u\-
for the same reason.

The agriculture on the Grundy silt 1( vim is the same as that on the sur-
rounding Carrington silt loam. The land is valued at one hundred and hft\
to two hundred dollars an acre.

IvNOX SILT LOAM.

The surface soil of the Knox silt loam is a yellowish-brown, light-
brown or bufif -colored, friable, smooth silt loam, from six to eight indies

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 47

deep. It is underlain by a bro\vnish-}'ellow or yellow, open, loose, friable
silt loam. Light-gray mottlings and yellowish-brown or reddish iron stains
are frequent in the lower subsoil, and often occur throughout the substratum.
Lime concretions are very common in the subsoil. The soil varies consider-
ably with difiference in topographic position. On the sharp divides and
upper steep slopes a light yellowish gray variation with numerous lime con-
cretions occurs. Where erosion has been very severe, the surface has a
whitish appearance. On the tops of divides or on the lower slopes of hills
and in forested areas the soil is brown, and in places approaches a dark-
brown color. In the timbered areas the color is due largely to leaf mold,
which would soon disappear with cultivation. The soil has a vertical and
open structure, a characteristic of the Missouri river bluff loess. The typical
soil contains very little black organic matter.

The Knox silt loam is rather inextensive in this county, having a total
area of 20.1 square miles. It is confined to the Missouri river blufifs. It
is best developed in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the county.

This soil has an extremely dissected topography and is thoroughly drained.
The valleys are V-shaped, with very steep slopes, and are two to three hundred
feet deep, but steplike slopes are very conspicuous features in some places.
The hills are usually rounded, a characteristic of loess soils. Along the
Missouri river slopes are extremely steep to precipitous. The type is sub-
ject to severe erosion, though since the subsoil is of practically the same
character as the surface soil, the washing away of the surface material does
not greatly change the character of the type nor render it useless for agri-
culture.

Practically all this type originally was forested. The chief growth on
the upper slopes and crests of the hills was hazel brush, sumac, and scrubbx-
bur oak, and in the draws elm, oak, hickory, bitter hickory, basswood, box
elder, ash, and some black walnut, with an undergrowth of hazel brush,
prickly ash, and dogwood. At least fifty per cent, and probablv more of
the type is still forested, though it is slowly being cleared.

Owing to the steep slopes the growing of small grains is impractical)le.
Some oats and wheat, however, are grown where the topographv is more
favorable. Oats constitute the most important grain crop, and are used
largely for feeding work stock. Oats yield an a^^erage of twenty-five bushels
per acre, and wheat sixteen to eighteen bushels. At present corn is the prin-
cipal cereal and is mainly a cash crop. On the lower slopes, and where
there is sufficient organic matter, it does well and vields from twentv to

48 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

forty bushels per acre. On the high crests and steep slopes the growing
corn has a yellowish appearance and makes a stunted growth unless heavily
manured. ^AJfalfa is grown very extensively and promises to become the
leading cash crop. It does well, owing to the thorough drainage and favor-
able distribution of lime. On some farms it is produced extensively, and is
baled and shipped to St. Joseph or Kansas City. Ordinarily alfalfa yields
three to four tons per acre per season. Clover and timothy do well, but it
is difificult to get a sand in dry years. Sweet clover grows luxuriantly on
this type, and is found along roads and in uncultivated fields, but the crop
is not utilized. Apples and small fruits are grown to a small extent. The
type is too far from railroad points for the successful production of fruit
on a commercial scale.

Owing to its dissected surface the type is hard to manage, notwith-
standing its loose structure and favorable texture. As very little live stock is
kept on this soil, very little barnyard manure is applied. Commercial fertil-
izers are not used.

This type is valued at twenty to seventy-five dollars an acre, depending
largely on the proportion of land suitable for cultivation.

For the improvement of the Knox silt loam it is necessary to handle
in with considerable care in order to prevent erosion and gullying. The type
should be kept in pasture as much as possible, the cuhivated areas should
be plowed deeper, and more organic matter should be incorporated with
the soil. Where sufiicient barnyard manure is applied, crops do as well
as on the Marshall silt loam. As the timber is very stunted, the forested
areas should be cleared and used for pasture or seeded to alfalfa. Grass
crops do well, and dairying and stock raising should prove profitable on
this type. With proper attention the commercial production of apples should
meet with success, where transportation and market conditions are favorable.

CARRINGTON SILT LOAM.

The soil of the Carrington silt loam consists of a dark-brown, heav)-
silt loam, eight to fifteen inches deep. In the flatter areas the soil is darker
and approaches a black color. The soil carries a higher j>ercentage of
clay than the Marshall silt loam, and as a result breaks down upon drying
into angular granules instead of a fine powder like the ^larshall silt loam.
The subsoil is a yellowish-brown or liglit-brown, very compact silty clay.
with a decided grayish cast. Below twenty-four to thirty inches the subsoil
is ligliter in color, and the gray appears as light-gray mottlings. In the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 49

lower part of the subsoil Ijright }-ellowish brown iron stains are common.
In places there is a la\er of material between the soil and subsoil, from
two to four inches in thickness and consisting of a brown, heavy silt loam,
heavier than the surface soil. There is a pronounced difference between
the soil and sulisoil in te.xture, but the change is not abrupt, except in the
flatter areas. The subsoil is moderately plastic when wet, though when dry
it is very hard and compact and difficult td break down between the fingers.
At thirty to forty inches the subsoil is likely to be looser in structure and
lighter in texture. The soil is high in organic matter.

There are a number of patches of heavy soil in the Carrington silt
loam, known locally as "gumbo spots." In these places the soil is a dark-
brown, heavy silty clay loam, eight to twelve inches deep, with a grayish
cast at the surface. The soil has numerous cracks aiid is extremely difficult
to handle. The subsoil is a drab, plastic silty clay, mottled with yellowish
brown. The drab becomes lighter, changing to light gray, and the mottling
decreases with depth. Lime and iron concretions are numerous in the lower
subsoil. Crops do not mature in these spots.

In the gently undulating region in Franklin precinct there is a varia-
tion of this type marked by a "hardpan" layer. This is similar to the fi^f
phase of this type mapped in Gage county, Nebraska. It consists of a dark-
brown, heavy silt loam, twelve to fifteen inches deep, underlain abruptly by
a rather tough. Ijlack clay. The material is extremely difficult to penetrate
with a soil auger and is decidedly plastic. At twent}- to twenty-four inches
the subsoil changes to a drab silty clay. niLittled with yellowish brown. The
lower part of the subsoil is not so compact and heavy as the upper layer.

On shoulders of hills and moderatel\- steep slopes the soil is not so
deep and is usually lighter in color than typical. In places the subsoil is
exposed, but downward along the slopes the soil becomes deeper and darker
in color, and at the foot of the slopes it is a dark-brown to black, heavy
silt loam from twenty to forty inches deep. The type also includes narrow
strips of colluvial material along the intermittent streams. The variations
I if this type are not sufficiently extensive to be shown on the soil map.

The Carrington silt loam differs from the Marshall silt loam in origin,
texture, and structure. The Carrington is a glacial soil, while the Marshall
is a loessial soil, free from stones. The Carrington soil, and particularlv
the subsoil, is heavier than the Marshall silt loam. These soils also differ
in that the Carrington silt loam does not stand up so well in vertical banks
as the Marshall silt Inam. Even with these differences, the tvpes grade
(-1)

50 RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

into each other so that the boundaries are difficult to estabHsli and are more
or less arbitrary.

The Carrington silt loam is the most extensive t}pe in the county, and
covers about two-thirds of the western upland region. It is more or less
broken with areas of Rough stony land and Shelby loam.

This type is gently rolling to rolling and is thoroughly drained. West
and northwest of Humboldt, where it is associated with the Shelby loam,
it occupies the gentler slopes and the divides. It has a similar topography
in the southwestern part of the county, where most of the steeper slopes
are occupied by Rough stony land. The gently undulating areas are con-
fined to the divide between the Nemaha river and Muddy creek, which
extends from Falls City northwestward into Nemaha county. Other areas
with a gently undulating surface occur south of Falls City. It is only on
the steeper slopes that there has been any serious erosion. With proper
tillage and crop rotation this soil, owing to its rather high organic-matter
content, is very retentive of moisture.

The type originally was prairie. About ninety-five per cent, of it is
now in cultivation, the remainder being in permanent pastures and farm
lots. Corn is the most important cash crop, though a large part of the
corn produced is fed to hogs. About one-third of this soil is in this crop,
and the yields average about thirty bushels per acre, though much higher
yields are obtained with careful cultivation. Oats rank second in acreage
to corn and yield from thirty to forty bushels an acre. The oats are largely
fed to work stock. Wheat is strictly a cash crop, and is receiving increased
attention. Ordinarily, yields of twenty to twentj'-five bushels per acre are
obtained. Clover and timothy are grown more extensively than alfalfa,
though alfalfa is becoming more popular. Clover and timothy do well in
wet years, though in dry years considerable difficulty is experienced in getting
a stand. In favorable years yields of one and one-half to two tons per acre
are obtained. Some timothy and clover are grown alone for seed with very
profitable returns. Alfalfa does well, and three to four cuttings per season
are made, with a total yield of three to five tons per acre. The tendency
on this type is to produce less corn and more wheat and alfalfa and to keep
more dairy cows and other live stock.

A few potatoes are grown, but scarcely enough to supply the home
demand. Some sorghum is produced for sirup. There are only a few com-
mercial orchards on this type; they give profitable returns, though the trees
do not do so well as on the Marshall silt loam.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 5I

The general practice on this type is to keep the land two or three years
in corn, one year in oats, one or two years in wheat, and in every second
or third rotation to grow clover and timothy. The land is usually kept
two or three years in clover and timothy and seven to ten years or longer
in alfalfa.

The four-hitch team is used almost entirely in the preparation of the
seed bed on this type ; gang plows generally are used for turning the soil.
Owing to its stone-free nature, favorable topography, silty texture, and
granular structure, this type is very easy to handle. When plowed too wet
it bakes and clods. Only small quantities of barnyard manure are applied,
and no commercial fertilizers are used.

The price of farm land on the Carrington silt loam varies from one hun-
dred to one hundred and seventy-five dollars an acre. In the vicinity- of
the towns this land is held for two hundred dollars an acre.

On most farms deeper and more thorough tillage of this soil would
prove beneficial. Leguminous crops should I)e grown in order to keep up
the organic-matter content of the soil.

SHELBY LOAM.

The surface soil of the Shelby loam is a dark-brown to brown loam,
with an average depth of about eight inches. The subsoil is a yellowish-
brown sandy clay loam, which becomes lighter in texture with depth. Below
about thirty inches the material is almost yellow. In the northwestern part
of the county and other localities where the Aftonian material is near the
surface, the subsoil is considerably lighter in texture and the surface soil
is often a sandy loam. This variation, however, is too patchy to be .shown
on the soil map. In places the subsoil has a reddish tint, which is due to
the color of the original material and not to oxidation. The content of
organic matter is moderately high. The subsoil contains considerable gravel
and rock deliris. Gravel is usually scattered over the surface, and a few
bowlders are present, though in the most fields these are not sufficiently
numerous to prevent cultivation.

The Shelby loam occurs as small areas scattered throughout the Car-
rington silt loam type. It is best developed west and northwest of Hum-
boldt in the Long Branch drainage basin. The type usually occurs along
the steep slopes between the Carrington silt loam on the higher land and
the Wabash silt loam in the Ijottom land. The drainage is thorough, and
is excessive in local spots where the Aftonian sands lie near the surface.

32 RICT'AKDSOX CorXTV, NEBRASKA.

W'liere the snljsdil is typical the soil withstands dnjtight well. The type is
subject to destructive enision, gullies ten to fifteen feet deep, with numerous
branching laterals, being very common.

The Shelby loam is derived from the Kansan drift sheet, but is more
or less influenced by the w"ash from the silty upland soils. The large bowlders
and pebbles on the surface and the gritty or sandy cla\' subsoil distinguish
it from the Carrington silt loam.

The native vegetation on the Shelby loam consists of the prairie grasses
common to this region. Along the drainage ways a large part of the type
is forested. About forty per cent, of the Shelby loam is under cultivation,
and the remainder is largely in permanent pasture.- with some hay land. Xo
farms are composed entirely of this type. The yields of crops are lower
than on the Carrington silt loam, though the same crops are grown. Corn
yields fifteen to thirty-five bushels, oats twenty to twenty-fi\e bushels, wheat
fifteen to twent}- bushels, and alfalfa two and one-half to three and one-
half tons per acre.

No definite crop rotation is practi.sed on this type. The general meth-
ods are about the same as on the Carrington silt loam. Owing to the steeper
surface and the larger quantity of stony material present, this soil is much
less desirable than the Carrington silt loam, with which it is closely asso-
ciated. When cultivated too wet, the Shelby loam clods and bakes, and
large checks and cracks form. .\ heavv farm equipment is required in
cultivating this type, except in the sand spots. Onl_\- small (|uantities of
manure are applied, and no commercial fertilizers are used Land values
on this t\"pe range from fift\ to ninety dollars an acre.

b'or the improvement of the Shelby loam consideral)le care is necessary
to prexent gullying on the .^teej) slopes. The steeji areas should remain in
permanent pasture or cover crops as much of the time as jiossible. The
content of <irganic matter shoukl be maintaineed by turning under green
crops and growing leguminrius cr<ips.

WAUKKSIIA SII.T l.OAM.

The W'aukesha silt loam consists of a ilark-brown. smooth, friable silt
loam, having an average depth of about eighteen inches. The soil pas.ses
through a brown, heavy silt loam into a brownish-yellow silt loam which
is hea\-ier and more compact than the surface soil. The sulisoil liecomes
lighter in color with depth, lieiiig yellowish in the lower pan. The sul)-
stratuni is oi)en :ind verv triable, and the material in the fourth foot is

RICHARDSON- COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 53

calcareous. The soil section of the Waukesha silt loam is similar to that
of the Marshall silt loam. As the color indicates, the Waukesha silt loam
is high in organic matter.

In extent the ^Vaukesha silt loam is very unimportant, having a total
area of only 1.8 square miles. It occurs as .small, isolated areas along the
streams of the county.

This type occupies distinctly benchlike areas, modified to some extent
by stream erosion. The terraces are from ten to fifteen feet above the present
flood plain. The Waukesha silt loam is well drained and withstands drought
over long periods.

Originally this soil was covered with a luxuriant growth of prairie
grasses. Xearly all the type is now under cultivation to the staple crops
commonly grown in the county. No farms consist entirely of this type.
Corn yields twenty-five to fort)-five bushels, oats thirty-five to forty bushels,
and wheat twenty to thirty bushels per acre. Leguminous crops receive little
attention.

The methods of cultivation, rotation, and fertilization are similar to
those on the Marshall and Carrington silt loams. The productive capacit\'
of this soil has been somewhat impaired by the failure to grow clover and
alfalfa.

The value of farm lands on the Waukesha silt loam varies from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars an acre.

For the improvement of this soil there is a general need for more,
thorough cultivation and the growing of leguminous crops to maintain the
organic-matter content.

WABASH SILT LOAM.

The soil of the Wabash silt loam is nearly black, and to an average
depth (if about twenty inches consists of a heavy, smooth silt loam. This
is underlain by a slightly heavier and more compact silt loam, which usually
is somewhat lighter in color, though it is not uncommon to find little difi'er-
ence in color or texture in the three- foot section. In places, usually along
the edge of the bottoms, the subsoil is a black, compact siltv clav. Lime
concretions and also iron stains are common in the lower part of the subsoil.
In poorly drained situations the lower subsoil usually is gray, mottled with
yellowish brown. A high content of organic matter is characteristic of the
surface soil of this type. In section 24, township i north, range 17 east,
and section ig, township i north, range 18 east, there is a variation of the

54 RTCHARDSOX COl'XTV. NEBRASKA.

Wabash silt loam, characterized by the admixture of large quantities of
sand. Otherwise the soil is similar to the main type. The higher sand
content has given it a somewhat more friable structure.

This type is the most important bottom-land soil in the county and
has a total area of 106.7 square miles. It occupies the first bottoms along
the Nemaha river and its north and south forks, Muddy creek, and along
the smaller streams of the county.

The surface is generally fiat, with only slight topographic relief where
old cut-offs occur. Originally the drainage of this type was poor, but by
clearing and straightening the channels of streams the drainage conditions
have been very much improved. About sixty miles of ditches have been
constructed. Practically all the type is subject to overflow in the spring.

Along the stream channels the type originally was forested with elm,
box elder, willow, cottonwood, ash, linden, hackberry. bitter hickory, and
black walnut, and a large part of this timber remains. Other parts of the
type support a luxuriant growth of marsh grasses. About sixty per cent
of this soil is devoted to the production of staple crops, and the acreage in
cultivation is rapidly being extended. Corn is the dominant crop, and there
are about six acres of corn to one acre of wheat and oats combined. Higher
yields of corn are obtained on this land than on any other soil in the county.
The yields ordinarily range from forty-five to fifty-five bushels per acre, but
with good cultivation in favorable seasons as much as ninety bushels has
been obtained. About one-half the corn is fed and the remainder is sold.
Where this soil has been devoted to the production of corn for a numl^er
of years, and is well drained, wheat does well, producng from twenty-five
to thirty bushels per acre. Wheat, however, is not grown extensively. Kher-
son oats do fairly well, yielding from thirty to forty bushels per acre. The
long-straw varieties are likely to lodge. On farms that do not include
some upland not enough oats are grown for the feeding of work stock.
In well-drained areas alfalfa does well, although very little of this crop is
grown. A large area of the type is hay land and pasture, ^^'ild ha\-
vields from one to two tons per acre. Owing to the fact that this type
affords good pasturage and produces good yields of hay, the raising of
beef cattle has been more extensively developed than on the upland. No
crop rotation is practiced, owing to the high natural productiveness of the
soil. In many cases it is reported that fields have been in corn continuouslv
fi>r ten \ears or longer. Occasionally is corn alternated with oats or wheat.

The flat topography, silty texture, and desirable structure of this soil

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 55

make it very easy to handle. In the spots of heavier material there is a ten-
dency for the soil to form hard lumps when cultivated too wet. No barn-
yard manure or commercial fertilizers are used. The Wabash silt loam
ranges in value from one hundred and twenty-five dollars to one hundred and
seventy-five dollars an acre, depending on location and drainage conditions.
The important problem confronting the farmers on this type is that of
drainage. The installation of a standard drainage system to remove the
excess soil moisture as well as the overflow water is needed. In the better
drained situations ditches would serve the purpose, while in the low, poorly
drained areas tiles should be laid about three rods apart.

WABASH SILTY CLAY LOAM.

The soil of the Wabash silty clay loam is a black silty clay loam, ranging
from twelve to fifteen inches in depth. It grades into a hard, compact silty
clay, which does not smooth out, but breaks into small aggregates when
crushed between the fingers. The subsoil becomes heavier and denser with
depth. At twenty-four to thirty inches the material is lighter in color, being
dark drab, mottled slightly with yellowish brown. The soil as well as the
subsoil has a granular structure, a characteristic of soils consisting largely of
clay. Locally this type is called "gumbo." The soil is very high in organic
matter.

The Wabash silty ciay loam is an extensive bottom-land type. It has a
total area of 21.2 square miles', and occurs in the first bottoms of the Nemaha
river and the north and south forks of this stream.

The topography is flat to slightly depressed. The drainage is very poor,
owing to the impervious character of the subsoil. The type is subject to
annual overflow.

The original growth on this type consisted of slough grasses and water-
loving plants. Most of the type is in hay land and pasture; about 20 per
cent, of it is under cultivation. Corn, wheat, and Kherson oats do well.
except in wet years. Corn yields forty to fiity bushels per acre, wheat about
thirty bushels, with a maximum of forty-five bushels per acre, and Kherson
oats about thirty bushels per acre. This soil is particularly well adapted to
wheat, owing to its heavy texture. In dry seasons a fairly good quality of
wild hay is produced on this tj'pe, yielding from one to two tons per acre,
though in wet years the hay is too coarse to be of much feeding value. In
very wet seasons crops are practically a failure because of the frequent over-

56 RICHARDSON COUXTV. XEBRASKA.

flows. Owing to the abundance of pasturage and ha\-. more live stock is
i<ept on farms of this type than on the upland.

The Wabash silty clay loam is much harder to handle than the Wabash
silt loam. Under favorable moisture conditions it granulates and works up
into a mellow seed bed, but when worked too wet it bakes and forms in-
tractable clods. The type receives no fertilization of any kind. This land
is \ alued at twenty-five dollars to eighty dollars an acre, depending largely on
the drainage conditions.

The establishment of efficient ilrainage b}- supplementing the present
ditches with tiles alxmt three rods apart is necessarv nver a large part of
the type.

WABASH CL.\Y.

The Wabash clay is a black, waxy, plastic clay, fifteen to eighteen
inches deep, underlain by a dark slate colored subsoil of the same texture.
The subsoil becomes lighter in color with depth, and below thirty to thirty-
six inches is gray, mottled with bright yellowish brown. Small iron and
lime concretions are encountered in the subsoil. Both soil and subsoil have
a granular structure and are very high m organic matter. The soil checks
and cracks considerably during periods of dry weather. The AVabash clay is
similar to the Wabash silty clay loam, except that it is heavier in texture.

This type is relatively inextensive, and is confined to the southeastern
part of the county. It occurs in the first bottom at the mouth of the
Xemaha river.

The W^abash clay has a flat to depressed topograph}- and is ver_\- poorly
drained. The type has been provided with several ditches, although addi-
tional laterals are needed to remove the surface water. It is subject to
annual overflows, which usually occur early in the spring. It is sometimes
inundated in the growing season.

The Wabash clay is largely utilized for pasture land. In dry seasons
it furnishes good pasturage, but during wet seasons or when overflows
occur little or no pasturage is available. About one-half the cultivated
area is in wheat, which in dr_\' seasons produces fnun tliirt\- to fort}- bu>hels
per acre. Corn does well, but is less extensively grow n than in former years.
It yields from thirty to forty-five bu.shels per acre. The soil is too rich for
the production of oats. Wild hay yields from one ton to one and one-half
tons per acre. The hay is mainly fed. Most of the stuck raised on this type
consists of beef cattle, few dairy cattle being kept.

This is the most difficult soil in- the county to handle, and ;i lieavv farm

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 57

equipment is required. When cultivated too wet it forms clods, though
under favorable moisture conditions the soil works up into a mellow seed
bed. No fertilizers are used. The value of this land ranges from twenty
dollars to sixty dollars an acre, depending mainly on drainage conditions.

This type requires the same treatment as the \\'abash silty clay loam.
It is greatly in need of drainage.

CASS CLAY.

The surface soil of the Cass clay is a dark-drab to black, sticky clay,
six to ten inches deep. It is underlain by a drab or gray clay, faintly mottled
with brown and rusty brown. In places the mottling is reddish yellow.
Below twenty-four to thirty inches a yellowish-gray mottled with reddish-
yellow ^'ery fine sandy loam is encountered. This t)-pe differs from the
Wabash clay in that it has a sandy subsoil. The soil is high in organic
matter.

The Cass cla_\- is inextensive in this county, having a total area of less
than one square mile. It is encountered in the Missouri river first bottoms.
occurring north of Rulo and in the northeastern part of the county.

The surface is generally flat, with a few meandering sloughs. Owing
to the underlying light-textured material, this type possesses fair drainage.
The sloughs occasionally are inundated.

Practically all this type is reclaimed. It is largely devoted to the pro-
duction i>f corn, wheat, oats, and alfalfa. Corn is by far the most important
crop, and yields from forty to fifty bushels an acre. Oats do fairly well,
but are likely to lodge. Wheat does well, yielding about thirty btishels per
acre. ^ Alfalfa is grown cjuite extensively with seasonal yields of three to
six tons an acre. Owing to the natural productiveness of this soil, the rota-
tion I if crops receives little attention, and the fields usually are planted in
corn until an appreciable reduction in crop yields takes place, when some
small grain crop is substituted for a few years. Corn, wheat, and alfalfa are
cash crops.

This type is difficult to handle, although easier than the \\'abash clay.
A heavy farm e(|uipment is required for thorough tillage. No barnvard
man-iu'e is applied and no commercial fertilizers are used. The Cass clay is
valued at sixt\- dollars to one hundred dollars an acre, depending on the
extent to which it is subject to erosion by the Missouri river.

.\s on all bottom-land soils there is a general need for die practice of
crop rotation on this type.

56 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

SARPY VERY FINE SANDY LOAM.

As it occurs in Richardson county, the Sarpy very fine sandy loam
consists of a light-brown to brown very fine sandy loam to a depth of ten
to fifteen inches, containing an appreciable quantity of coarse silt. This is
underlain by a yellowish-gray, lighter textured very fine sandy loam which
contains but little silt or clay. Below twenty-four inches the subsoil is
mottled with light gra}' and shows bright yellowish brown iron stains. The
low percentage of organic matter is indicated by the light color of the soil.

This type is very inextensive, occurring as small areas in the Missouri
river bottoms. It lies usually about eight feet above the normal flow of the
stream. The surface is generally flat, though marked by slight ridges.
Between stages of high water, the drainage is good; at high stages of the
stream the low areas are overflowed.

The greater part of this type is under cultivation, and is almost entirely
devoted to the production of corn. In seasons of favorable rainfall corn
does well, yielding from twenty-five to thirty-five bushels per acre. Some
wheat and oats are grown. Wheat yields fifteen to twenty bushels, and
oats thirty bushels an acre. Potatoes of good quality are produced on this
soil, though the crop is grown only to supply the home demand. Some
alfalfa is grown and does fairly well.

The Sarpy very fine sandy loam works up into a very mellow seed
bed and can be tilled under any moisture conditions as long as there is no
water standing on the surface. Small quantities of manure are added to
the reclaimed areas; no commercial fertilizers are used. T-and values range
from thirty dollars to eighty dollars an acre.

For the improvement of the Sarpy very fine sandy loam it is recom-
mended that green crops be turned under to increase the organic-matter
content.

SARPY SILT LOAM.

Areas of the Sarpy silt loam are indicated on the soil map b\- inclusion
symljols in the Sarpy very fine sandy loam color. The soil of tlie Sarpv
loam is a light-brown to brown silt loam, twelve to fifteen inches deep, con-
taining a high percentage of very fine sand. The subsoil is a yellowish or
brownish-gray very fine sand>' loam with streaks of coarser as well as heavier
material. The change in color between the soil and subsoil is not marked
In- a distinct line, nlthougli as a rule the lower subsoil i.^ a shade lighter in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 59

color and streaked with rusty-brown iron stains. The soil is not nearly so
high in organic matter as the Wabash silt loam.

This soil occurs in a single small area east of Rule in the Missouri
river bottoms; it covers two hundred and fifty-six acres.

The type is flat, but owing to its sandy subsoil it is well drained between
stages of high water. It lies about eight to ten feet above the normal level
of the river. Owing to the high water table, it is very drought resistant.

Practically all this type is under cultivation, being devoted mainly to
com. This crop does well, yielding from forty to fifty bushels an acre.
Some alfalfa is grown, and this is a very profitable crop. The value of
land of this type ranges from eighty dollars to one hundred dollars an acre,
depending on the extent to which it is subject to erosion by the Missouri
river.

For the improvement of the Sarpy silt loam the incorporation of
organic matter is needed. Liberal applications of manure should be made.

ROUGH STONY LAND.

The areas mapped as Rough stony land consist of land too stony and
rocky to permit cultivation. The soil is seldom deeper than eight inches,
and over large areas the bedrock is exposed. What little soil has remained
is chiefly a black silt loam to silty clay, underlain by rotten limestone or shale
of the Pennsylvania formation which vary in color from white to red. In
local spots the soil contains some sand and is a loam in texture. Consid-
erable coarse material, such as bowlders and gravel, is scattered over the
surface. It is probable that most of the soil is derived from the bedrock
and not from glacial debris.

Rough stony land is rather extensive in this countv. It occurs as small
areas mainly in the southwestern part of the county, scattered throughout
areas of the Carrington silt loam.

The topography is broken and marked by an intricate drainage svstem.
Along streams the slopes frequently are precipitous. The areas- mapped
include rock blufifs along streams and occasional low -knobs in the higher
lying land.

Along the drainage ways most of the Rough stony land supports a
scrubby growth of bur oak. The other areas support a fairh- luxuriant
growth of the prairie grasses common to the region.

6o . Ricn \RDsoN cnrxTv, Nebraska.

This land is used only for grazing. Beef cattle, mainly Herefords, are
raised, and are sold chiefly in Kansas City and St. Joseph. Land values
range from ten dollars to forty dollars an acre.

RIVERWASH.

Ri\er\vash, as mapped in Richardson count}-, comprises mainlv areas
of mud, silty tiats, and sand bars in the Missouri river. The material is
very light colored and ranges in texture from a clay to a fine sand. A
large part of the Riverwash supports a growth of young willows, and is
in the transitional stage from Riverwash to soil of the Sarpv series.

There are two and six-hundredths square miles of Riverwash in this
county. The surface is only a few feet above the normal level of the river,
and the areas are overflowed with slight rises of the stream. The Riverwash
changes with each overflow and even during the normal flow of the stream
the outlines of the areas are constantly changing. The new deposits are
considerably modified by wind action, and in stormy davs form dust clouds.

SUMMARY.

Richardson county lies in the extreme southeastern corner of Nebraska,
bordering the Missouri river. It has an area of five hundred and forty-five
square miles, or three hundred and forty-eight thousand eight hundred
acres.

The topography varies from gently undulating to steeply rolling or
broken, though most of the area is rolling. The elexation of the county
above sea level ranges from eiglit hundred and fifty to one thousantl two
hundred and twenty feet. The greater part of the area lies between one
thousand and one thousand i;)ne hundred feet above sea level. The general
slope of the county is southeastward. .\11 sections are provided with ade-
quate surface drainage by a complete system of drainage ways belonging
to the system of the Nemaha river, an importaiit tributary of the Missouri.

According to the census nf igjo, Richardson county has a population
of se\-enteen thousand four hundred and forty-eight, of which eighty-one
and three-tenths per cent, is classed. as rural. The principal town is Falls
City, the county seat. The transportation facilities, except in the north-
eastern corner of the county, are gotxl. Tn general, the countx is pro\ided
with excellent dirt roads. Kansas City. St. Joseph, and Omaha are the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 6l

principal markets. All parts of the count}- are provided with rural mail
delivery and telephone ser\ice and good schools.

The climate of Richardson county is pleasant and is well suited to agri-
culture. There is an average growing season of about one hundred and
seventy days. The mean annual precipitation is about thirtv-three inches,
and the mean annual temperature about fifty-three degrees ¥.

Grain farming is the main type of agriculture. Corn, oats, wheat,
timothy and clover mi.xed, alfalfa, and wild grasses are the principal crops,
ranking in acreage in the order named. The raising of hogs and beet
cattle and dairying are important industries. The farm buildings are sub-
stantial and the surroundings present an appearance of thrift and prosperitv.

Systematic crop n nations are not practiced. On!\- small quantities of
barnyard manure are applied, and scarcely any commercial fertilizers are
used. There is an abundance of farm labnr, but it is hard to obtain efficient
help. Most farms consist of one hundred and si.xt_\- acres, though the
average size is reported in the 1910 census as about one hundred and fiftv-
cit^ht acres. About fifty-three per cent, of the farms are operated b\' the
owners, and practically all the remainder i)y tenants. About ninety-fi\e per
cent, of the area nf the county is reported in farms and of the land in farms
eight\-six ])er cent, is reijorted impnned. The value of farm land ranges
from twenty dollars to two hundred dnllars an acre. Land is rented mainh
by the share SN'stem. Cash rents range frdui aliout three dollars to si.\
dollars per acre.

The county lies almost entirely within the glacial and loessial region,
with only a small area belonging to the River b'lood Plain province. The
.soils of the glacial and loes.sial region are deri\ed from the weathering of
the loess and drift. The loess material has given rise to the Marshall.
Grundy and Knox soils and the drift to the Carrington and Shelby soils.
The second bottoms are occupied b\' the Waukesha soil. The recent deposits
along the streams are classed with the W.abasb, Cass, and Sarpv soils, antl
Riverwash.

Small areas closely iissociated with the drift have l)een formed through
the tlisintegration of the shales antl limestones of the I'enns\l\ani;i forma-
tion. This material is classed with Ri)ugh stony land.

The Marshall silt loam is one of the extensive soil types in Richardson
county. It is well suited U> the production of corn, oats, wheat, and hay.
The utilization of the (irundv silt loam is simila.r to that of the Marsli:dl.

62 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The Knox silt loam is chiefly devoted to corn and alfalfa, as it is too hilly
for the production of the small grains.

The Carrington silt loam is by far the most extensive and important
type of soil in the county. This soil, together with the Marshall silt loam,
dominates the agriculture of the county. The Shelby loam and Rough
stony land are best used for pasture.

The Waukesha silt loam is well adapted to corn, oats, and wheat.

The bottom-land soils are best suited to com. though considerable hay
and some wheat and oats are produced.

CHAPTER II.
Indian History and Prehistoric Times.

The Indians, found along the west bank of the Pekitanoui or Missouri
river in this county by the first white men who came up the river as voyagers,
explorers, trappers, or missionaries or across the plains from the southwest
Spanish settlements in New Mexico, who had resided within the present
limits of the county so long that they were regarded as the original occu-
pants of the country, were the Panias, Paunias, or Pawnees. The Pawnee
nation was divided into four tribes, each of which had an Indian name and
a white name : Chau-i, Grand ; Kitke-hahk-i, Republican ; Pita-hau-erat,
Noisy; Ski-di, Wolf. These tribes were each divided into bands and lived
together in groups and kept together on the march. The Sacs and Foxes
and lowas came later and were the only tribes who were here by removal.
The Pawnees appear to have the best claim as the original red Indian inhabi-
tants of this section. They were holding it at the time the Spaniards first
came out of Mexico and appear from records to have been in possession
perhaps for three or four hundred years. They were open prairie dwellers,
and are believed to have drifted into the country from the southwest. The
Pawnees were a very religious people and given much to the ceremonies of
the same; their language and customs marked them as differing much from
other tribes and as a whole never were at war with the white people. They
were distinct from other Indians who, like themselves, were crowded out
of this Missouri river valley country, such as the lowas, Winnebagoes, Sioux,
Sacs and Foxes, all of whom were forced westward from the shores of the
Great Lakes by stronger peoples, and the white settler from the East.

In the interregnum between 1825 and 1827 the United States govern-
ment established tiiese tribes or parts of them in this county. The Sacs and
Foxes, whose homes were on the \\'isconsin and Fox rivers, united in the
early part of the nineteenth century and began a migration to the southwest
and acquired a large territory in Iowa and Missouri. Under a treaty made
between tliem and the government on September 17, 1836, they made an
exchange of tliese lands for territory west of the river. The territory thus
receixed was for the most part in Kansas and north of the Kickapoo river,

64 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

but extended nortli to the Great Xenialia river in this county. By \-irtue of
this treaty tlie lowas. Sacs and Foxes became permanent neiglibors in this
county under wliat was known, until aljout i860, as tlie Great Xemaha
agency. .Anch^ew S. Huglies \\as the first appointed to have charge of this
agency. The lands so held were described as being "The small strip of land
on the south side of the ^lissouri river lying between the Kickapoo boundary
line and the Great Xemaha river, and extending from the ^lissouri and west-
wardly to the said Kickapoo line and the Grand X'emaha, making four hun-
dred sections to l.)e di\-iderl between the said lowas and the Missouri band of
Sacs and Foxes, the lower half to the Sacs and Foxes and the upper half to
the lowas."

By treaty of May 18, 1S54 ( 10 Stats. 1074), the Sacs and Foxes ceded
to the United States all of the country above described, except fifty sections of
six hundred and forty acres each, to be selected in the western part of the
cession. The fifty sections were selected in 1854, having been surveyed and
established by John Leonard, a deputy surveyor.

Under a joint treaty of March 6, 1861, with the Sac and Fnx and Iowa
Indians, all that part of their reservation lying west of Xohart creek and
within the boundary as surve\'ed by Leonard, was to be suld to the govern-
ment, half of the proceeds to go to each nf the tribes. This cession was
sold and the money invested for the Indians.

L'nder the terms of treaties at various times the boundaries of the tribal
lands sufifered changes but the last home of the Sacs and Foxes comprised
lands as follows : Beginning at the intersection of the south line of the Iowa
reserve with Xoharts creek, thence along this line to the south fork of the
Nemaha, or Walnut creek, thence down this creek to its mouth, thence down
the Great X'emaha river to the mouth of X'oharts creek, thence up this creek
to the place of beginning. The lowas retained the lands to the east, which
lay between the (n-eat Xemaha and Missouri rixers. a \cr\- large part of
which was in the state of Kansas.

By authority of the act of Congress of August 15, 1876, ten sections of
the west end of this resen^e were sold with the consent of the tribe, which
was given on January 8, 1877. The sale was made through the land office
at Beatrice and Charles Loree, of Falls City, had local charge of the same,
under direction of the land office.

In IQO-' what was left of the Iowa reserve consisted of ele\en tliousand
six hundred acres, all allotted, and that of the Sacs and Foxes, eight thousand
and thirteen acres, all allotted, except nine liundred and sixtv acres. The
earlier enumeration of these bands by the government places the figure at

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 65

nearly a thousand. These Indians being so long isolated on their small
reservation and separated from other and larger bands of wild Indians,
dropped their roving disposition and were quite friendly with the whites and
ne\er gave trouble to the settlers. But few are left in this county at the
present day.

In i860 a remnant of the W'innebagos, who for a long time had lived
with the Sacs and I'oxes at the Nemaha agency went back to their tribe in
Minnesota. \^'. P. Richardson, Daniel Vanderslice. Major John A. Burbank
and C. H. Norris were in charge of the Nemaha agency during the period
between 1850 and 1867, the latter two being residents of Falls City.

On account of their participation in the Black Hawk War in Illinois and
Iowa, the Sacs and Foxes were taken in hand by the United States govern-
ment and removed to reservations in IMissouri and Iowa first, and later to
this county.

TREATY OF 183O.

L'nder a treat}- witli the various tribes of Sioux and other Indians on
July 15, 1830, at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, a strip ten miles wide between
the Great Nemaha river in this county and the Little Nemaha river in
Xemaha county, being about twenty miles long, was set aside as a reservation
for the half-breeds and mixed bloods of the Omahas, lowas, Otoes and
Yankton and Santee bands of the Sioux family of Indians. The Winne-
bago Indians, who were a branch of the Sioux, at one time occupied a tract
of land in the northeast part of the county having a village on what is known
as Winnebago creek in Arago township, this being within the "half-breed"
strip or reservation. So it is apparent that the Indians found here in 1853-4,
when Nebraska was first opened to white settlers, were, themselves, early
arrivals in this part of Nebraska territory and are not to be taken into account
when an effort is made to discover what people antedated the Pawnees.

The Sacs and Foxes were of the Algonquin family or Eastern Indians
and were distinct from the lowas, Winnebagoes, Omaha and Sioux family
tribes with whom thev were closely associated while living in the Great Lake
region. "The Hand Book of American Indians", a publication of the United
States Bureau of .\merican Etlmology, lias the following to say relative to
the Sacs :

"The culture of the Sauk was that of the eastern or wooded area. They

were a canoe people while they were in the country of the Great Lakes, using

both the birch-bark canoe and the dug-out. They still retain the dug-out,

and learned the use and construction of the bull boat on coming nut upon

(5)

66 RICHARDSON COL-NTV, NEERASKA.

the i)lains. Thev practiced agriculture on an extensive scale. Despite their
fixed abode and villages they did not live a sedentary life together and fish
almost the whole year around. They were acquainted with wild rice, and
hunted the buffalo. They did not get possession of horses until after the
Black Hawk War in 1832, and they did not become very familiar with the
horse and the mule until following their arrival in Kansas after the year
1837. Their abode was the bark house in warm weather and the oval flag
reed lodge in winter; the bark house was characteristic of the village. Every
gens had one large bark house, wherein were celebrated the festivals of the
gens. In this lodge hung the sacred bundle of gens, and here dwelt the
priests who watched over them. It is said that some of these houses were
of the length required to accommodate five council fires. The ordinary bark
dwelling had but a single fire, which was in the center.

"The Pawnees are by many regarded as having attained a higher culture
than the Indians who were placed on reservations. They possessed horses
sooner, and were great buflfalo hunters. Xo Indians, of course, had guns or
horses before the white man came.

PRETIISTORIC.

"But liack and before the Indians whom the white men ever met, were
tribes of men in possession of the Missouri river country, delighting especially
to build their houses on the high bluffs where the eye could have a wide
sweep over the waters and surrounding country. These old house sites are
now hidden from view by the acaimulated dust of centuries and to be seen
and appreciated must be excavated and dug out of the rubbish heap of time,
like buried cities of antiquity."

The articles foinid in these house sites indicate, so archeologists claim,
a higher state of culture and mental development than possessed by the
Indians who occu])ied the ground later. InU were less warlike. Some believe
that there was a large population, while (jthers hold to the belief that the
c()untr\- could not have been thickly settled even along the river bluffs, but
that the settlements endured over long periods of time. It is most probable
that the number was not great, as the means of subsistence was not so easily
1 litained by the early or primitive peoples. They cultivated the soil and
raised crops of some kinds, probably pumpkins, gourds, squash, corn and
I)eans. but as they had no tools with which to cultivate the soil, except bone
ini])lenients, it is unlikel\- they could ha\e worked on an extensive scale.

The)- jjossessed neither horses nor metal tocils, !)ut were hunters, as evi-

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 67

• lenced by the fact that many articles used were made of the bones of deer
and buffalo and are found among their remains. They were also fishermen,
as shown by the bone fish-hooks, and living so long on the river they knew
the use of boats and dugouts. They built quite large one-story houses, made
pottery and many kitchen and household utensils out of the clay found on
ihe hills.

One of the seats of this ancient tribe was on the Stephen Cunningham
farm. al30ut a mile north of Rulo, near the old townsite of Yankton in sec-
tions 5 and 8, of township i, north of range No. i8, east of the sixth p. m.
The story of its discovery in December, 1913, is as follows and very inter-
esting :

AN INTERESTING STORY.

A story had been sent out from Rulo some time previous and given wide
])ublicity in the state press to the effect that the remains of a prehistoric race
iiad l)een found near that city. The editor of this work together with Mr.
.\. R. Keim, editor of the Falls City Journal, went to Rulo for the purpose
of making a personal investigation. Arriving there we were directed to the .
farm of Stephen Cunningham about a mile and a half north of Rulo. The
farm at that time was occupied by A. R. Morehouse, a tenant, who was kind
enough to give us every assistance required. The land is adjacent to the
Missouri river and a good-sized creek, which drains the farm and surround-
ing country, empties into the Big Muddy, near the site of the obsolete village
of Yankton, which was located on the east side of the farm, fronting the
river. The village and all traces of it except cellars over which building had
stood ha\e long disappeared, and it is said to have been at its best in the days
when steamboats were numenrus on the river. The creek referred to. at the
]iresent time, has but little water in it, but the waters from heavy rains and
the hack water from the Missouri river, at times when it has been high, have
washed a deep and wide gorge. It is on the south banks of this ravine and
at a distance of about a thousand feet west of a point where it formerly
emptied into the Missouri river, that the find of skeletal remains was made.
The first find of human bones had been made some weeks prior to our visit ;
further recent heavy rains brought more tones to view. When we arrived
at the scene we found quite a quantity of bones lying around on the ground
and were told that the students of the schools at Rulo had visited the scene
and removed many good specimens.

However, as some bones were in plain view protruding from the bank.
shovels were brought and after a little digging two more complete skeletons

68 RICirAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

were iinco\ered and plenty of evidence to show that many more might be
found in the wall of the ravine. The skeletons were all found with the head
to the east and at a depth from the surface of the. ground of six or seven
feet and were found embedded in a formation of joint clay, which gave no
evidence of having been distmbed in centuries. A string of white shell beads
were found around the neck of each and all the bones were in a good state
of preservation. The oldest inhabitants of that section were interrogated,
but had no memory of any burial ground located in this spot and no one
could he found who could throw any light on the presence of the skeletons in
such a place. One skull and a number of the bones was sent to the Nebraska
State Museum, where they are now placed on exhibition.

KEPORT OF EDWIN II. BARBOUR.

Professor Barbour made the following report of the receipt and examina-
ti(jn of the skull, tones and shell beads: "I have received and examined the
skull, l^ones and beads recently received submitted for examination. The
shells used for these beads are Paludina dccapitsta, so named because the apex
of the S])ire is truncated, suppressed or "cut off". The Paludinas are fresh
water gasteriwd "shells", which live in lakes and large swamps. The par-
ticular specia which were u.^ed in making these beads had very thick walls
and an inflated bod}- whorl, which gave the shell a rounded appearance, and
the thickness gave the bead strength and lasting qualities. We know of no
other paludina with equally thick walls. The lx)dy whorls are ridged and
ornamented in a pleasing way. . Altogether, these shells seem to have been
wisely chosen by early Nebra.^kans. The apertures of these shells are large
and by grinding or rubbing the shells, presumably on rough stones, a second
hole was made through the body whorl just back of the aperture. Thus, two
openings were made and the shell could be easily strung. The shells are
used very considerabl\- and it may not be over fanciful, perhaps, to imagine
that the necklace may have been graduated much as necklaces of modern
l)eads are graduated, with the larger in front and the smaller ones back.

"Tlie skull and bones appeared to be those of a tvpical Indian. The
forehead is of good size, the frontal eminence well developed, the dome of
the skull large, the face erect, with little, if any, protrusions of the muzzle,
superciliary ridges very reduced and cheek bones of average prominence,
eyes well apart, average cross temples. It appears to be the skull of an
Indian of the higher rather than the lower tribes. The tibia is characterized
by an tinc<imm(inly high crest and pronounced anterior curvature, but this is

PEKHISTOItIC Ol.LA. TNIOAItTHKI ) FOTK JIILKS EAST OF FALLS CITY.

PEEinSTUItlC SKFLL AM) slUM.L-I'.KAI ) XFCKLACK FOTXD XFAU TIIIO OLD
YAXCTON TOWNSITE.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 69

not uncommon. The skull seems to be finely preserved, with mandible in
place and the dentition complete. Even the hyoids may he seen between the
rami of the jaws."

A reporter for the Nebraska Sta.tc Journal interviewed the professor,
after the report was sent out that Spanish coins had been found among the
Indian remains and this reporter made the statement that it was now the
Professor's opinion on re-examination that the skull represented a low type
of Indian. The interview was as follows: "Spanish coins near the place
where a number of skeletons were found may have been brought there by
Coronado, but the skeletons are not those of followers of the Spanish explorer.
This is the decision reached by Professor Barbour of the state museum, after
he had examined for the second time the skull sent him from the recent find
at Rulo. The skull is typically Indian and a low type of Indian at that.
There is not the least possibility that it could be a member of the famous
Spanish expedition, which passed through the country, in the early days of
American discovery and exploration. The examination showed that the
skull had a peculiar triangular shaped bone at the back. The bone is found
almost exclusively in Indian tribes. The professor measured the facial angle
and discovered that it was by far too low for that of the European and even
abnormally low for that of the Indian. This latter does not point to the
fact that the skull is that (^f a specia of mankind lower than that of the
Indian. Rather it shows an individual variation in the particular specimen.
The skull is that of a middle-aged man. This is pr')ven by the fact that the
sutures are well formed and closed. They are not closed tightly enough,
however, to be that of a man in advanced years. In making this observa-
tion the professor pointed out that the sutures remained partly opened until
mature vears, to allow the brain a chance for growth and consequently give
the individual a chance for intellectual expansion. In the ape family the
sutures close early in the life of the individual. As the different races of
mankind become more advanced, sutures close at correspondingly later periods
of Hfe."

Following closely upon the finding of the skeletons mentioned above
came stories of the finding with them of Spanish coins of gold and the .story
created a sensation in this section and was widely commented upon by the
press of this and other states. The story of the "'coins" came from parties
who had visited the scene in our absence and the matter of their having been
"actually found"' in the place indicated was never fully authenticated to our
satisfaction. We saw the purported coins, which, in fact, were not coins
at all, but more in the nature of medals about the size of an American half

■JO RICUAIUJSOX COrXTY. NEBRASKA.

dollar and made of a cheap metal and coated to resemble gold. Upon
examination the\- proved to be emblems of the Catholic Knights of St. George
and l)ore Latin inscriptions. On one side of the coin was a figure of St.
George nicnnted on a horse with a spear in his hand fighting a dragon, and
the words "St. Georgins l<>|uitnm Patronns." On the reverse side of the
coin were the figure of a small sailing ^■essel of the style of the days of
Liilunilius. the rising sun over the sea and the words "In tempestiis Securitas.'"

REASONS GIVEX FOR AGE OF THE FIND.

Hon. R(jbert ]•'. (iilder, of Omaha, a member of the Omaha Jl'orld
Herald staff and field archeologist for the Nebraska State Museum, who
came here at the instance of myself and made a personal examination of the
house -ite and bones and assisted in some excavations while at the scene him-
self, had the following to say:

"I am not prepared to sa\- how old the skeletal parts in the burial are
but believe it would not be stretching the truth to place an age on them of
one thousand five hundred to three thousand years. I find upon analysis
that some of the .skull bones I brought home with me are mineralized to a
very large degree, that practically all their animal matter has been displaced
by mineral matter and that they are very highly mineralized or "fossilized."
Wy reasons for estimating the age of the skeletons are:

I'irst : Uy finding absolutely prehistoric beads closely associated with
the liones. In fact, linding them in place, and highly impregnated or covered
with oxide oi manganese, giving to some of them the appearance of having
real cuticle composed of mineral.

Second: By finding pre-Columbian utensils with the skeletons, viz.,
two scajnila implements, commonly called hoes or digging tools, differing
from the modern bone hoes.

Third: By finding an antler implement, not at all unlikt a terra-cotta
phallus in my possession, not u^ecl liy any Missouri river Indians.

Innirth ; By finding a part of a familiar tlint blade closelv associated
with the bones and other f;imiliar boulders, only found by me in Xebraska's
oldest aboriginal house ruin>. wiiicb certain!}- b;i\e a geological age of from
two thousand to fi\e thousand years.

I have not heard of any iron knives or arrow heads being found as.soci-
ated with the skeletons and it is known that the origin.al Americans had
metal point;- ])rior to metal adornments.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. J\

PREHISTORIC POTTERY FOUND IN RICHARDSON COUNTY.

The beautiful modern towns and cities we live in with their paved streets,
electric lights, telephones, sewers and all modern conveniences, including the
automobile, with -which we can race across the country and enjoy the view
of large improved farms \\ith their beautiful homes, in a way lull us into a
sense of believing it was ever thus and that we were the beginning of all in
what we call a new country. Such conclusions receive a rude shock when
evidence is produced to the contrary and we see that this land was the home
of peoples in the distant past of whom we can know but little. We were
again reminded of this fact in May of last year (May ii, 1916), when a
large olla was found nine feet below the surface in the side walls of a drain-
age ditch on lot No. 8 of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of
section 19, township i, north of range 17, east of the sixth princii>al meridian,
which is about three miles cast of Falls City and one mile west of the old
village of f'reston. The place where found is a United States government
tract in the Iowa Indian lands. At this point the Great Nemaha river makes
a loop or horseshoe and a drainage ditch had been built across the neck of
land running east and west. It was found in the south wall of the large
ditch about eight or nine feet below the surface of the ground at the top of
the ditch. This piece of ancient pottery was fashioned by hands that had
long since laid aside the working tools of life; how long since we do not
know.

It has been observed that the making of pottery was not much carried
on by nomadic tribes because of the fragility of the vessels, but found its
highest development among peoples of sedentary habits. The clay used was
mixed with various tempering ingredients, such as sand and pulverized stone,
potsherds and shells ; the shapes were extremely varied and generally worked
out by the hand, aided by simple modeling tools. The baking was done in
open or smothered ovens or fires or in extremely crude furnaces. Many
ollas found in dififerent parts of the country are highly decorated. Author-
ities agree that the tribes of the plains did not practice the art of making
potter}- except in the most simplest forms, but those of the ancient tribes of
the middle and lower Mississippi valley and Gulf states were excellent potters.

The olla above referred to was found in the flood plain of the Nemaha.
It measured eighteen inches in depth and about three feet in circumference
and the top opening was twelve inches. It was found in a sub-soil of clay.
The entire bottom has received many feet of soil deposit brought down from

72 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

flood and overflow, but those best acquainted with the country say that not
more than three or four feet have been added in this way in the past fifty
years they have known the country. The olla was photographed, just as
found by L. C. Edwards, in an upright position, as if it had been sitting on
a floor. A vase similar was found at the Yankton townsite of the Missouri
river bluffs, north of Rulo, but these two are so far as known, the only ones
ever found in Richardson county.

The manner in which the olla chanced to see the light of day and tell a
tale of partly civilized human life, as it existed in the Xemaha valley, long
centuries before the white man saw that tortuous stream's winding course
through the broad flood plain fringed with groves and guarded on either
hand by the rolling, indented hills, was due to the digging of the cut-off
channel for the Nemaha river from the Burlington railroad bridge, a mile
west of Preston, in a northeast course, to cut off a sharp bend and shorten
the stream. The work was done for the drainage district No. i, of Richard-
son county, with a drag line dredge. The line of the ditch was over a tract
of land belonging to the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians and is still owned by
the tribe, being reserved by the government as a mill site, when all the other
lands were allotted. The olla was not exposed l)y the dredge, although it
cut deeper than the position where it was found. The olla was exposed by
the erosion and widening of the ditch by the floods of 19 15 and was brought
so near the slope of the ditch, thus widened, that the action of the frost of
the previous winter or spring after the ice went out, cracked and broke it.
It was not injured by the dynamite used in blasting to any preceptible degree,
but its being found was due to C. G. Buchholz, being in charge of the dyna-
mite gang, blowing the ditch deeper. The location would have been favor-
able for a fishing camp or a permanent home, as it is protected on all sides
by heavy timber and was in a high bend of the river and very seldom over-
flowed. The high bluff, within a few hundred feet, would have furnished a
good lookout and it was at all times accessible from the south, as the high
prairie came right up to the bluff. There was and is a good spring of water
within five hundred feet of this ancient house site. The fact that this olla
was found in an upright position, ten feet underground, is not strange, as
it was supposed to have been the custom of the ancient peoples to whom this
Wonged, to live in large community or communal houses, or at least to have
had one such for community worship or ceremony. Those houses were four
or five feet under ground with the remainder above. There is apparently
three or four feet of fill from the dift'erence in the nature of the soil. The
clay of the Nemaha valley plains originally scoured down when the stream

SinOIJ, NKCK

•:let()x nf.au yan(

; INEARTHED IX RICHAKDSON COUNTY.
BY L. C. EDWARDS AND A. P. KEIM.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 73

was a real river about the time of the ice age ended and the great lake that
occupied the whole south half of Nebraska drained off in this direction.
Since the stream dwindled down to its present size, it has been overflowing,
but not as much as formerly, as within the period of the white man's settle-
ment and the breaking of the prairies and the plowing of the fields soon filled
the narrow, deep stream and caused overflows that carried the suspended
soil out upon the bottom lands and all of these places have been filled up by
the new soil deposits, in many places as much as five feet, since 1870. The
belief is prevalent that any ten years since 1870 have seen as much filling on
an average over the flood plain as was made in one hundred, before the sod
was broken. The olla was brought to Falls City.

PREHISTORIC SHELL NECKLACE.

On January 14, 1914, in company with a party of well-known Falls City,
Nebraska, citizens, I examined a "burial" about one and one-half miles north
of the village of Rulo, Nebraska, in Richardson county, not far north of the
Kansas line. In the party were Rev. James Noble, rector of St. Thomas's
Episcopal church; Lewis C. Edwards, register of deeds of Richardson county;
.V. R. Keim, editor of the Falls City Daily Journal; Robert Rule and Harry
Jenne, Falls City business men, and Col. Charles Marion, a well-known auc-
tioneer of that part of Nebraska.

Several weeks prior to my visit 1 had been informed of the fact that
human bones had been found protruding from the south wall of a ravine,
which had been cut into the hills by rains. As it is a common thing to find
bones almost anywhere in the Missouri valley, I was not especially interested,
but I learned later that "Spanish" coins of a "very ancient date" and many
trinkets of "silver", had also been found with the remains. I decided to
make a personal investigation in l^ehalf of the state museum. University of
Nebraska. As this paper is not intended as an expose of a "plant" of value-
less "junk", it is only necessary to state that the job was a very bungling
affair and has been pretty thoroughly aired through the investigations of Mr.
Floyd Morehouse, a son of the tenant of the farm. It might be stated, how-
ever, before disposing of that part of the matter, that the supposed Spanish
coins were in reality emblems of the Catholic Knights of St. George, on which
were inscriptions in Latin. The fact that Nebraska has had for a year a
statute making such forgeries a crime, was one of the agencies in prevent-
mg a very large traffic in the spurious "relics", planted with what were with-
out question pre-Columbian remains.

y6 RICHARDSON COLNTY, NEBRASKA.

The above article and photos appeared in the March- April, 1914, issue
of "Records of the Past" Magazine, published at Washington, D. C. The
author, Mr. Robert F. Gilder, of Omaha, has kindly consented to the use of
the storv in this History of Richard.son County.

THE SAC OR SAUK INDIANS AS A PEOPLE.

The Indian, like his white brother, had a certain amount of caste or
rank. They were divided into "gentes". They had as many as fourteen
gentes : Trout, Sturgeon, Bass, Great Lynx, or Fire Dragon, Sea, Fox,
Wolf, Bear, Bear-Potato. Elk, Swan, Grouse, Eagle and Thunder. In
earlier periods there seemed to have l)een a more rigid order or rank, both
socially and politically. For example, chiefs came from the Trout or
Sturgeon tribes, and war chiefs from the Fox gens; and there were certain
relationships between one gens and another, as when one acted the role of
servant to another, seen on occasion of the gens ceremony. Marriage was
restricted to men and women of the different gentes, and was generally
attended with the exchange of presents between the family of the pair.

In the case of death, a man might marry the sister of his deceased wife,
or the widow might become the wife of the brother of her dead husband.

Polygamy was practiced, but was not usual ; it was the privilege that
went with wealth and social prestige. A child followed the gens of his
father, but it frequently happened that the mother was given the right to
name ; in that case the child took a name peculiar to the gens of the mother,
Init was yet in the gens of the father. But for this fact the gens of an indi-
vidual could generalh- be known from the nature of the name. The name
is intimately connected with the gens; for example, a name meaning "he
that moves ahead flashing light," refers to lightning, and is a name peculiar
to the Thunder gens. Besides the grouping into gentes, the tribe was further
divided into two great social groups or phratries : Kishko and Oskrash. The
painting color of the first was white clay and that of the second, was char-
coal. A child entered into the group at birth, sometimes the father, some-
limes the mother, determining which group. The several groups engaged
one another in all manner of contests, especially in athletics. The Sauk
never developed a soldier society with the same degree of success as did the
Foxes, but they did have a buffalo society; it is said that the first was due
to contact with the Sioux, and it is reasonable to suppose that the second
was due to influence also of the plains. There was a chief and a council.

_^%.

IXKIAX IMPI.EMEXTS OF WAI! T-XEARTHEn IX I!ICHA1U)S(.\ COTXTY
XEBKASKA. ' ' -^ ' > ■

RICHARnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. "J"]

As stated, the chiefs came from the Trout and Sturgeon gentes, and the
council consisted of these, the war chiefs, or heads of families, and all the
warriors. Politically, the chief was little more than a figurehead, but socially
he occupied the first place in the tribe. Not infrequently, however, by force
of character and by natural astuteness in the management of tribal affairs,
the chief might exercise virtually autocratic powers. Furthermore, his per-
son was held sacred, and for that reason he was given royal homage.

The religion of the Sauk is fundamentally in the belief in what are now
commonly known as Manitos. The sense of the term is best given by the
combined use of the two words "power" and "magic". The world is looked
on as inhabited by beings permeated with certain magic force, not necessarily
malicious and not necessarily beneficent, the manifestation of which might
produce one or the other effect. Objects in nature held to be endowed with
this force become the recipients of varying degrees of adoration. A child
is early taught to get into personal relation with some Manito by means of
fasting and vigil to secure his tutelary or genus. The Manitos of the Sauk
mythology and religious worship are represented in all nature. They are
human beings, animals, birds, fishes, reptiles, insects, plants, fire, water and
all the elements personified. The mythology of the Sauk is rich with fables
of anthropomorphic beasts and beings. The principal myth is concerned with
the god of life, called Nanaboszo, by cognate tril^es. with die flood and with
the restoration of the earth.

The Sauk had numerous ceremonies, social and religious. Some of
these they still retain. The chief two religious ceremonies still in existence
are the gens festivals and the secret rite of the Midewiwin. or Grand Medi-
cine Society. The gens festival is held twice a year — in the spring, when
thanksgiving, is offered to the Manitos for the new season, and in the sum-
mer after the fields ripen. The meeting of the Midewiwin is generally held
but once a year, during the spring, when a ceremony is conducted by a group
of men and women bound together by vows of secrecy. The society is
entered by initiation and the payment of a fee. and the ceremony is con-
ducted by an elaborate ritual on the occasion of the admittance of a new
member, who takes the place of one who died during the preceding year.

Next in importance to these, are the rites connected with death and
adoption. To express grief for dead kindred, they blackened their faces
with charcoal, fasted, and abstained from the use of vermilion and orna-

RicriARDSON cou:

ments in dress. The Sauk practiced four different methods of burial: ( i)
the corpse was laid away in the branches of a tree or upon a scaffold; (2) it
was placed in a sitting posture, with the back supported, out on the open
ground; (3) it was seated in a shallow grave, with all but the face buried
and a shelter was placed over the grave; (4) there was complete burial in
the ground. The ghost world is said to be in the West, beyond the setting
sun. and thither it is said the people go after death. The brother of the
culture-hero is master of the ghost world, while the culture-hero himself is
said to be at the North, in the region of the snow and ice. The Sauk are
looking for his return, when they believe the world will come to an end, and
they and the culture-hero will go to join his brother. The Sauk was first
known to history in 1650.

— From the "Hand Book of Americans," Bureau of Ethnology, Washing-
ton, D. C.

K.\r<LY INDIAN HISTORY.

The churches, as in these later da}'s, were pioneers in the new country,
and the great work done by these institutions is deserving of the highest
commendation. Viewed in the light of more recent history, as it relates to
the troublesome times encountered by those who would become settlers, it
is almost unthinkable that they should have found men ready and willing
to sacrifice themselves and who would have dared to enter this then deso-
late, unsettled country and spend the greater portion of their lives among
the early Indians of this region. Yet, we have the proof in reports made
by those early missionaries to the missionary boards of the Baptist, Method-
ist, Catholic, Episcopal and Presbyterian churches.

It appears that they were here long in advance of those whom we desig-
nate as the pioneers of the county; The first missions were located to the south
and ea.st, in what is now known as northeast Kansas, but a short distance
south of the Kansas-Xebraska state line. One of these missions is still
maintained in Doniphan county, Kansas. Rev. Isaac McCoy, of the Bap-
tist church, was one of the earliest of these missionaries and was well
acquainted with conditions on the Iowa and Sauk reservations, both of
which extended into this county. He was here in 1839, which, of course,
was long before the erection of Nebraska Territory and found the lowas
at that time to number more than, one thousand, while the Sauks, located but
a little way to the west, had more than five hundred members in the parts of
their tribe occupying this territory. In reports made by him he indicated
that the ciinditi<-)ns of these people were inipro\ing somewhat and that tlie

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 79

general government, under treaty stipulations, was affording them consid-
erable assistance in the building of dwellings and mills ; in fencing and plow-
ing their lands, and in caring for live stock and the building of schools. .\t
this earlv time the Western Missionary Society of the Presbyterian church
had established a mission, which was for a time in charge of Mr. and Mrs.
Ballard. Upon their retirement it was taken over by Rev. \\'illiam Hamil-
ton and Messrs. and Mesdames Irving and Bradley. The assistance ren-
dered by the government to the Indians in the building of houses was great-
ly appreciated and some of the old houses so built were located south of
the Great Nemaha, near Falls city, and the ruins of the same were found
by the pioneers coming- here in the earlv fifties.

The Methodists at this time had a small mission in charge of Reverend
Berryman and the Catholics, likewise, were in the field with a small mission.

KEV. WILLIAM HAMILTON, MISSIONARY.

The Rev. William Hamilton, who was as well known as any of the
early missionaries after coming here in 1837, spent the remainder of his
life in Nebraska.

He was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on the banks of the
Suscpehanna, West Branch, on August i, 1811, and although his father
was killed by the Indians, while peaceably engaged on his farm, the young
man, upon offering himself as a foreign missionary, requested that he be
sent among the Indians of this country.

After completing his studies at college Mr. Hamilton was licensed to
preach b)^ the Presbytery of Northumberland, in the spring of 1837, and
returned to a seminary to resume studies with his old class. During that
summer he was accepted by the Presb}terian Ijoard of foreign missions as
their missionary, and at the same time was married to Julia Ann N. McGiffin
of \\^ashington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained by the Presbytery of North-
umberland in 1837, and immediately started to his field in the West. He
left Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1837, and reached Liberty Land-
ing on Saturday, November i8th, having been en route nearly a month from
Pittsburgh, and traveled from St. Louis to a point, the present site of Glas-
gow, Missouri, within eighty-six miles from the field to his future labors.
Forty-five miles of this was on horseback to the old agency, nine miles below
East Black Snake Hills, the present site of St. Joseph, Missouri. He reached
this place on the 27th of Deceml^er, and was detained at the agency on

80 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

account of there being no way to make a crossing of the ^Missouri river until
it might freeze.

From the agency at St. Joseph he footed it, while his wife, a little
Indian girl and a white girl in Mr. Ballard's family, rode horseback. The
ice was only strong enough to cross on foot, and they waited until a trader
bought a mule from an Indian, and hiring it and an Indian pony, his wife
rode the mule and the two girls rode the pony, while he took tt afoot. They
had twenty-five miles to go to reach the Indians on Wolf creek, and night
overtook them at Mosquito creek, seven or eight miles from their destination.
As they had intended to get through, no provision had been made ' for camp-
ing out, or for dinner, supper or breakfast. It was very dark and knowing
nothing of the road they camped by that stream, and he spent most of that
night cutting wood that the party might not freeze, having an extra axe in
his saddle bags and succeeded in affixing a temporary handle. The follow-
ing morning they started without breakfast and reached Wolf creek about
eleven o'clock. The water at the ford lacked but three or four inches of
overreaching the pony's back and the bank was very miry; not until four
o'clock in the afternoon did they succeed in gaining the other bank, and all
were wet to the skin. The weather for that time was quite warm or they
might all have perished with cold, as it was the 29th day of December.

Mr. Irving and wife and other missionaries were there in a log shanty,
and they were most kindly received by them and shared their hospitality
until thev could fix up the other end of the log house for their home. Irving-
had a small quantity of flour which he gave to the Hamilton party and with
some corn and beef they were able to get from a trader at Iowa Point, some
six miles away, when it was issued to the Indians, they were able to make
out. Mr. Hamilton walked the six miles on one occasion and ground the
corn on a hand mill, as long as it was prudent to stay, and carried the meal
home on his back. On another occasion he went to Ft. Leavenworth, fifty-
one miles, to take the borrowed mule home, expecting to cross there and go
thirty miles further to St. Joseph, that is, over eighty miles, to get to a
place only twenty-five miles from the mission, and return the same way; but
when he got to the fort the cold of the preceding night rendered the river
impassable on account of the ice. Alxiut sundown, when he was nearly
twenty miles from the garrison, though he know nothing of the distance,
there came up suddenly what would now be called a blizzard, and it seemed
as though he should perish, if he had not had a buffalo robe on his saddle
which a trader, who had traveled with them from St. Louis, when he parted
with them at Fayette, gave to Mr. Hamilton, saying he might need it some

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 8 1

time. The next day he started back, having obtained a sack of flour at the
garrison through the kindness of General Kearney, and arrived at his home
on the third night near midnight, having had to break the ice to cross Wolf
creek. It was February before they were able to get their trunks, and then
in doing so he had to make another trip occupying ten days. During his
absence his wife and Mr. Irving and wife had the pleasure of trying to live
on the siftings of corn meal.

The Iowa Indians at that time numbered some eight hundred souls, and
the Missouri Sacs about five hundred. They were much given to heavy
drinking in those days, when they were able to obtain liquor, and sometimes
the sprees might extend for days at a time, or until they had killed some of
their number, when they would swear ofif, as it was called, for a certain
number of days, but before the expiration of the allotted time some of them
would break over the rule, and then, like one sheep going to water, it was a
signal for all to follow. Mr. Hamilton spent more than fifteen years of
his life among tliem, and Mr. Irving who had kept a diary, claimed that the
Indians had at different times during their drunken sprees, murdered as
many as sixty of their number, while not one of their people had been killed
by any other tribe, though they had killed others. At first they were very
jealous of the missionaries, thinking they had come to trade, and when
told that this was not the object of the party, suggested that they might as
well return home, as they could. see no higher object for their being there.
The Indians, however, in due time became very friendly with the missionaries.

missioner's life threatened.

Reverend Hamilton was once waylaid, as the interpreter had told him,
by the head chief, a very bad man, when he had gone to the mill and was
returning after night. He, however, took a different road when nearing
his home, with no apparent reason, and thus avoided him. The mission-
aries had also been under consideration by the Indians when they were in
a mood to commit murder, but they had crossed the river and shot a white
man living on the bottoms. No-Heart (for whom No-Heart creek and an
earlv village by that name south of Rulo was named), when a little drunk,
told Mr. Irving that the missionaries should not die — a remark not under-
stood at the time — but plain enough when they heard of the shooting on the
east side of the Missouri river. All this happened before the purchase of
the country in 1854. Mr. Hamilton's life was threatened at one time by a
(6)

82 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

man who had been a blacksmith, the latter drawing a pistol and a bowie knife
on him. The culprit was at a later time burned in Te.xas for the shooting
of a prosecuting attorney in a court room, and confessed at the stake the
murder of several whites and an Indian.

Reverend Hamilton, after enduring the years of hardships among the
Iowa and Sacs at the mission on Wolf river, was transferred to the Otoe
and Omaha mission at Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1853. reaching this latter
place on the 6th of June of that year.

]\Ir. Hamilton, who had spent most of his active life working among
the tribes of Indians in this state, writing on the subject, on May 22, 1884,
had the following to say:

"I could relate many things in connection with the treatment of the
Indians, that ought to make us, as a nation, blush, but it would require a
book to tell all I have witnessed of fraud practiced upon them, and by many
persons; things that I have personally known to be true, would now hardly
be believed. The policy of teaching them English is well enough, but the
idea of driving their ovvii language out of their minds, may do to talk about,
but will not be done in many generations. Even the few who seem to un-
derstand our language as well as we do ourselves (only a few), prefer
speaking their own. Their mode of thought is so different from the English,
and I might sav, from all modern European languages, that it is a great
l)arrier to their acquiring our language perfectly. It must be the work tif
time, and while they are instructed in English, the great truths of the Gospel
must be heard in their own language wherein they were born. With these
instructions in religion and the education of the young, strict justice on the
part of the government should be done them. They ha\-e rights that seem
to have been little respected.

"Although I seemed to offend an agent forty-si.x years ago by saying
the whites would have this country before long, and I could not believe what
he so confidently asserted again and again, that they could not, for it was
set apart forever for the Indians, yet time has shown what he could not then
believe has literally come to pass. When the treaty was ratified, it was not
long until great numbers were seeking a home in what was thought, not a
centurv ago, to be a desert country, and not fit for the hunting grounds of
the Tndian.s. \\'hen I came ^^'est in 1837. most of Iowa was unsettle*.!
and owned b\- the Indians, and the buffalo roamed tn-er it. there being
.1 few settlements on the Mississippi. 1 have seen all of Missouri settled up.
.-ind 1 might sa\ as far smith as Arkansas. When asked in an early day

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 83

how far my diocese extended. I replied, I supposed north to the forty-ninth
degree of latitude, and west to the summit of the Rocky mountains, as at
that time I knew of no other Preshyterian minister within these bounds.
Reverend Dunbar had been among the Pawnees, but had left. The popula-
tion of the United States did not at that time exceed fifteen million of souls.
Now what do we see? Churches and schools all over this then Indian coun-
try and a population of fifty-five millions.

"When I came among the Indians fifty years ago I saw the red man
riding on horseback, and his wife walking and carrying a load, and the little
girls carrying something, and boys, if there were any, carrying bows and
arrows. Before I left the lowas, I saw the v>ife on the horse, and the man
walking. The same may be said of the Omahas. Now, it is quite common
to see the man and his wife riding together in a wagon. Then, the women
packed the wood, often three miles, on their backs — that was in summer :
now it is hauled in wagons, the men generally doing the work, when able.
Then, when not on the hunt, the}- were, when sober, either playing ball or
cards, or some other game ; now they are engaged in farming. True, they
keep up their dances, i. e., the heathen part, but generally take the Sabbath
for them, as they pretend to work on the other days, but they also work on
the Sabbath. It is over thirty years since I left the lowas. and they have
greatly diminished, as have the Otoes and Sacs. Whiskey has been their
ruin.

"The Indians do not worship idols as many heathens, that is, carved
idols or images, but are idolaters in the true sense of the word; but the idol
is more in the mind and they apply the name of god to many things and
ideas — different gods for different things. Wakanda in Omaha, Ponca,
etc. ; Wankanta in Iowa, Otoe, etc. : Wa-ka-tangka in Sioux, which is reall\-
the great or war god; Tanga, Sioux; Tangga, Omaha; Tanra, Iowa, signify-
ing great. Waka is a snake in Iowa and Otoe, and uda is good in Omaha :
perhaps, good snake, as pe is good in Iowa, and peskunya is bad, or not
good: while uda is good, in Omaha, but pe-azhe in Omaha is not good,
showing the pe retained in the negative Great Spirit is introduced, I have
no doubt by the whites, as the only idea of that spirit is the spirit of the per-
son. Moleto, or meneto, is the name of God in the Sac and kindred lan-
guages, and a Sac interpreter told me it meant big snake. The Sac language
is as musical as the Greek. The Winnebagoes use a term for God signifying
the maker of the earth, but also the same nearl\- as the lowas."

84 RICHARnSdX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lONERS AMONG THE PAWNEES.

In 1834 two Presljyterian workers. Rev. John Dunbar and Samuel Allis,
began work among the Pawnees of Nebraska under the auspices of the
American board, and were later joined by Doctor Satterlee. After some
time spent in getting acquainted with the people and the language, a per-
manent station was selected, in 1838, on Plum creek, a small tributary of
the Loup river, by consent of the Pawnees, who in the meantime had acknowl-
edged the authority of the government. Circumstances delayed the work
until 1844, when a considerable mission and a government station were begun,
and a number of families from the different bands took up a residence adja-
cent thereto. In consequence, however, of destructive inroads of the Sioux,
the ancient enemies of the Pawnee, the mission effort was abandoned in
1847 3nd the tribe returned to its former wild life.

About the year 1835 work was begun by the Presbyterian Board of For-
eign Missions among the Iowa and Sauk, then residing on the Missouri river,
in east Nebraska ( Richardson county that now is ) . Attention was also given
to some others of the removed tribes, and about ten years later a mission
was established among the Omaha and Otoe at Bellevue, near the present
Omaha, Nebraska, where, in 1850, Rev. Edward IMcKinney compiled a small
Omaha primer, the first 'publication in that language. Both missions con-
tinued on down to a modern period, despite the shifting fortunes of the tribes.
Other prominent workers were Rev. Samuel Irvin, who gave thirt\- years of
his life, beginning in 1837, to the first tribes named; and Rev. William Ham-
ilton, who, beginning in 1837, with the same tribes, was transferred to the
Bellevue Mission in 1853, rounding out a long life with a record of a half a
century spent in service. Working in collaboration these two produced
several linguistic works in the Iowa language, published by the ^lission Press,
between 1843 to 1850, besides a collection of Omaha hymns and some manu-
script translations by Hamilton alone at a latter period.

The earliest Baptist worker in the central region was the Rev. Isaac
McCov, afterward for nearly thirty years the general agent in the Indian mis-
sion work of that denomination.

The ]'4)iscopalians appear to have done no work in the interior until
<il)out 18^0. — Prom the "Hand Book of American Indians."

CHAPTER III.
Spanish Explorations.

To no agency other or more than the natural greed that possessed the
early Spanish explorers, do we owe the discovery of what we now know
as Nebraska. There were men in the old world country who, while slow
to believe in the theories of Columbus and slow enough in giving him assist-
ance when most needed, were, however, awakened to the greatest of activity
when stories of the wonders of the New World were brought back b}- the
first expedition. This same spirit possessed the early conquerors of the new
world. Each expedition fitted out brought to western shores adventurers
lired with a desire to investigate the stories told, retold, magnified and dis-
torted to unbelievable proportions. Those, while bearing no semblance
of probability, only served to whet the desires of those who had come. No
manner of privation could stop these early adventurers.

The spirit of the cavalier, fired with the romance of treading strange
paths and communing with strange races of people, whose existence on this
side of tlie planet until those days was absolutely unknown to the world, was
as if at this late date after the world had been, as we believe, thoroughly
tra\erstd. we or some one should happen to discover ways and means of
communication or intercourse with another race of mankind on some other
planet. The existence of peoples in a western hemisphere, not known to be
existent, must have been an event sufficient to fire the imagination of the
then civilized world as had nothing before or since. That its effect was
(if stupendous importance, and so regarded at that time, we have ample e\i-
dence from the record of subsequent events.

The adventurous Spaniard was fired with excitement after the return
of Columbus and efforts were at once commenced to outfit expeditions which
should conquer the new world for the Spanish crown. Of these numerous
expeditions we have neither time nor space here to speak, but must point out
that the same spirit which prompted them, pervaded those of a later time,
who hearkened to the voice of legendary stories reaching their ears from
various sources, telling of famous peoples to the north nf ^Mexico, who had
not been visited by the European. The desire to inxade tlie great tractless

86 RICIIAUnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

unknown Xorth, led to nn expedition headed by one Francisco \^asquez
Coronado. which in the hght of more subsequent knowledge of the country
traversed, the distance covered, the people likely to have been encountered,
and the climatic conditions and other innumerable obstacles, of necessity, to
be overcome, not to mention their mode of travel, seems to have been more
really Quixotic than any of the many vagaries ascribed to the unbalanced
mind of that mythical gallant in the days of knight errantry, described by
the noted .Spaniard, Cervantes.

It was here that the nature of the early Spaniard manifested itself most
plainly. He had pillaged ever_\- people with whom he had come in contact
in the new world and by the same promptings in a desire for what he
might obtain by force, gave ear to the stories of beautiful cities and peo-
ples of fabulous wealth to be found in the North. Hence it is that he and
his followers were the first to visit the land we now prize as our state.

Gathering aliout him a band of some few hundred of his countrymen on
horseback, together with se\eral hundred Indians with supplies, a start was
made in February, 1540. During that year they journeyed as far north
as the territory now included in the present state of Arizona, where they
spent the winter. In the following spring, in the month of April, the
journe\- was continued on northward. The expedition was a failure and so
foredoomed from the start, if measured by its accomplishment of any of
the purposes originally set forth, for the reason that it failed utterly in
finding any of the fabled cities or peoples, the like of which had been
described to them : but it did succeed, or, at least, a very few survivors of
the original part}- succeeded, in penetrating to a farther point north and
west than had an) exploring party up to that date. In accounts made of the
trip it seems most certain that they reached the fortieth parallel north
degree of latitude (Kansas-Nebraska state line), and by sonnie it is believed
that they may have actually invaded the interior of Nebraska. This being
true, they were the first besides the natives to see what is now Nebraska.
This expedition started out originally from a point about four hundred
miles north of the Cit\- of Mexico and their wanderings covered a period
of two years. 1540 to 1542, and in the path of their travels for the first time
beheld the grandeur of the grand canyon of the Colorado. This great can-
yon, which in these later days is considered the grandest spot in the western
hemisphere, fur its scenic wonders, made but little impression on them as
compared witii what the\- had been led to hope would be found, and they
pressed on tln-Dugh the hot summer months and endured much suffering
and pri\'ation.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 87

DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.

Coronado, in writing of what he had found, said: "I have reached
the fortieth parallel of latitude," "The inhabitants are good hunters, culti-
vate corn, and exhibit a friendly disposition. They said that tv^^o months
would not sufifice to visit them entirely. In the whole extent of the prov-
ince, I have seen but about twenty-five villages, and these are built of straw.
The men are large and the women well formed. The soil is the best which
it is possible to see for all kinds of Spanish fruits. Besides being strong and
black, it is very well watered by creeks, fountains and rivers. Here I found
plums, such as I have seen in Spain, walnuts and excellent ripe grapes."

Jarmacillo, one of Coronado's lieutenants, writing at a later time in
regard to the expedition, had the following to say of his observations:
"The country has a fine appearance, such as I have not seen excelled in
France, Italy, or in any of the countries which I have visited in the service
of his majesty. It is not a country of mountains, there being but hillocks
and plains, with streams of excellent water. It afforded me entire satisfac-
tion. I judge that it must be quite fertile and well suited to the cultivation
of all sorts of fruits. For a grazing countr}-, experience proves that it is
admirably adapted; when we consider the herds of bison and other wild
animals, vast as the imagination can conceive, find sustenance there. I
noticed a kind of plum of excellent flavor, something like those of Spain:
the stems and blue flowers of a sort of wild flax, sumach, along the margins
of the streams, like the sumach of Spain, and palatable wild grapes."

FURTHER REPORTS.

Speaking further in regard to this part of the new world those chron-
iclers, who were the first from the then civilized world to see. made report
as follows referring to the buffalo: "These oxen are of the bigness and
color of our bulls, but their horns are not so great. Tliey have a great
bunch on their foreshoulders and more hair on their forepart, tlian on their
hinder part, and it is like wool. They have, as it were, a horse mane upon
their backbone, and much hair and very long from their knees downward.
They have great tufts of hair hanging down from their foreheads, and it
seemeth that they have bears, because of the great store of hair hanging
down from their chins and tiiroats. The males have very long tails , and a
great knol) or flock at the end, so tliat in some respects they resemble the

88 rickai;dsox county, Nebraska.

lion, and in some other, the camel. They push with their horns, they run,
thev overtake and kill a horse, when they are in their rage and anger.
Finally, it is a foul and fierce beast of countenance and form of body.
The horses fled from them, either because they were afraid of their deformed
shape or else because they had never seen them. Their masters have no
other riches, nor substance; of them they eat, they drink, they apparel, they
shoe themselves; and of their hides they make many things, as house shoes,
apparel and ropes; of their bones they make bodkins, of their sinews and
hair, thread; of their homs, maws and bladders, vessels; of their dung, fire;
and of their calves, skins, budgets (buckets), wherein they draw and keep
water. To be short, they make so many things of them as they have need
of, or as many as suffice them in the use of this life."

The party encountered a storm and while the same happened four
hundred years ago, yet in detail it would pass for similar disturbances many
of us have witnessed in our own time : "One evening, there came up a ter-
rible storm of wind and hail, which left in the camp hailstones as large as
porringers and even larger. They fell thick as rain drops, and in some
spots the ground was covered with them to the depth of eight or ten inches.
The storm caused, said one, many tears, weakness and vows. The horses
broke their reins, some were even blown down the banks of the ravine, the
tents were torn, and every di.sh in the camp broken."

The authorities do not positively fix it as a fact that Coronado ever
actually penetrated far enough north to have touched Nebraska, having only
his word for it, and to make that doubtful, the fact that the early explorers
invariably erred from one to two points off, in reckoning or computing the
degrees of latitude. If correct, he undoubtedly, as he said, did reach the
south boundary of our state ; and if in error, as much as indicated above,
he would then have reached central Kansas. In any event, the undertaking
was most wonderful, considered from any angle regardless of the motives
of its prompting. People residing in the vicinity of Junction City, Kansas,
so certainly believe the story of this party's visit to their section of the coun-
try at the time indicated, that in 1902 they erected a monument with suitable
inscriptions for the purpose of commemorating the e\ent.

There are recorded many other and wonderful tales of romantic value
telling of adventurous explorers, who at later dates may have visited the
land of Qui vera, hut they savor so much of the fable that they can have
but little interest of historical value, except for showing the state of mystery
that must have surrounded this unknown region in those shadowy days of
the past.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 89

VISIT OF FRENCHMEN.

Not until nearly two hundred years later do we find an authenicated
case of any visit to this region by the white man, and it is then a party of
Frenchmen under the leadership of the Mallet brothers, Pierre and Paul.
They, like the later exploring parties, made use of the good old Missouri
river as a means of transit and in their description of the trip gave the
length in leagues of the distance between points along the stream from
St. Louis to the northern part of the state of Nebraska, where they appear
to have disembarked and from this point traversed the state, going to the
southwest and on to Mexico. They are said to have been the first white men
to visit the state and they it was who were the first of this race to negotiate
the Platte river and name it. From reports of their visit was obtained the
first really authentic description of the country now included in what is
Nebraska.

Stories told by this party encouraged others to come up the river and
we find that many of the early visitors soon began to carry on quite an
extensive and (to them) profitable trade with the natives, taking their furs
in exchange for cheap trinkets they were able to bring from the East and
from Europe. Manuel Lista was the most widely known among these
early traders so far as this part of the country is concerned.

As soon as the country was acquired by the government from France
tinder what was known as the "Louisiana Purchase," Lewis and Clark
were sent to make an in\-estigation for our government. This famous
expedition was sent out in 1804 and consumed the greater part of two
years on the trip. The various visitors to the West in those days made the
trip up the river in open boats, using oars, and sometimes pulled the lioats
with horses on the shore or by men with a rope attached to the Ix)at. This
method of travel was both tedious and slow.

THE FIRST STEAMBOAT.

The first steamlx)at used on the Missouri river for navigation pur-
poses was that of Major Stephen Long, who was in the government serv-
ice and had been sent West to explore the Platte river and the region east
of the mountains in 1819. This boat, the "Western Engineer," was out-
fitted at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and left that point on its long journey
on Mav 5. 1819. This party went down the Ohio river to St. Louis and

90 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

thence up the Missouri to Council Bluffs. The boat, being the largest and
first of its kind under its own power to make the voyage, was a strange
sight to the simple natives and the smoke emitted from its funnels was
terrifving to them. The party arrived at Omaha, or near the later site of
that city, some time in the month of September of that year. Those people
spent many months among the Indians of the state, then going west to the
mountains. The Major had in his party a number of scientific men who
made a close study of the country and the people.

That the country from the Missouri river west to the mountains at
that period, was regarded as unlikely to ever become of much value for
agriculture, will appear from what he reported to the government, speaking
in this connection: He said: "It, (the country) is almost wholly unfit for
cultivation and of course uninhabitable for people depending upon agricul-
ture for their subsistence."

Major Long and his men proved no Ijetter prophets as to the future
of Nebraska than many who came later; but, being a representative of the
go\ernment, his report was given undue credence and its effect was detri-
mental to this country for many years. However, notwithstanding what he
said, it is a well-known fact that the Indians then living here had in their
crude way succeeded in raising a considerable quantity of vegetable and
cereal crops. The Pawnees, Omahas, Poncas and Otoes were raising a
number of varieties of all the different kinds of corn we now have: besides
they cultivated some fifteen kinds of beans, eight kinds of S(|uash. one of
melons and innumerable other articles of food value.

From what source Major Long drew his conclusions is not clear as the
native had found it ix)ssible and had raised all that was sufficient for his
well being, for centuries before the advent of the white man upon the scene,
and subsequent e\ents ha\e more than proven that the white man could do
likewise.

LEWIS ANn Clark's expedition.

Soon after the acquirement of the Louisiana Territory from the French,
the American government, desirous of having authoritatixe information
relative to the same, commissioned Capt. Meriwether Lewis and C'apt. Will-
iam Clark. l)oth of whom at the time were officers in the United States
army, to set out on an expedition and explore and report on the same. They
were to ascertain the source and courses of the Missouri and determine the
most convenient water route to the Pacific and, incidenth', to gather all pos-
sible information in regard tn tlie new countr\'. Tliev made tlieir wav to

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 9I

St. Louis, Missouri, and al that place outfitted themselves for the long
journey up the Missouri river. The start on this memorable trip was made
from the above place on May 14, 1804.

P'oUowing is a description of the company and outfit taken from the
journal of Lewis and Clark:

"The party consisted of nine young- men from the state of Kentucky,
fourteen soldiers of the L'nited States army, who volunteered their services,
two French watermen, an interpreter and hunter, and a black servant belong-
ing to Captain Clark — all of these, except the last, were enlisted to serve as
privates during the expedition, and three sergeants appointed from amongst
them by the captains. In addition to this were engaged a corporal and
six soldiers, and nine watermen to accompany the expedition as far as the
Mandan nation, in order to assist in carrying the stores, or repelling an
attack, which was most to be apprehended, between Woos river and that
tribe. The necessary stores were subdivided into seven bales, and one box,
containing a small portion of each article in case of accident. They con-
sisted of a great variety of clothing, working utensils, locks, flints, powder,
ball, and articles of the greatest use. To these were added fourteen bales
and one box of Indian presents, distributed in about the same manner, and
consisted of richly-laced coats and other articles of dress, medals, flags,
knives and tomahawks for the chiefs — ornaments of dififerent kinds par-
ticularly beads, looking glasses, handkerchiefs, paints, and generally such
articles as were deemed best calculated for the taste of the Indians.

"The party was to embark on board of three boats; the first was a keel
boat, fifty-five feet long, drawing three feet of water, one large scjuare sail
and twenty-two oars; a deck of ten feet in the bow and stern formed a
forecastle and cabin, while the middle was covered by lockers, which might
be raised so as to form a breast work in case of attack. This was accom-
panied by two perioques [pirogues] or open boats, one of six and the other
of seven oars. Two horses were at the .same time to be led along the banks
of. the river for the purpose of bringing in game, or hunting in case of
scarcity."'

.\fter a slow and laborious voyage they reached a point opposite to
where the Great Nemaha empties into the Missouri, on the afternoon of
July nth, where they went into camp for a couple of days. (The Great
Nemaha at the present time empties into the Missouri river at a jwint sev-
eral miles north of the spot located liy Lewis and Clark, it having changed its
course in later years, during times of liigh water."

RICHARDSON COl NTV. NEBRASKA.

Till-: COUNTRY DESCRIBED.

The following from the journal of Lewis and Clark, describes what
they found at the mouth of the Xemaha :

"Jul)- 12, 1804 — (Thursday) — We remained here today for the pur-
pose of refreshing the party and making hmar observations. The Nemaha
empties itself into the Missouri from the South, and is eighty (80) yards
wide at its confluence, which is in latitude 39'' 55' 56". Captain Clark
ascended it in a piroque about two miles, to the mouth of a small creek on
the lower side. On going ashore, he found in the level plain several arti-
ficial mounds, or graves, and, on the adjoining hills, others of larger size.
This appearance indicates sufficiently the former population of this country,
the mounds being certainly intended as tombs, the Indians of the Missouri
still preserving the custom of interring the dead on high ground. From the
top of the highest mound a delightful prospect presented itself — the level'
and extensive meadows watered b}- the Nemaha and enlivened by the few
trees and shrubs skirting the borders of the river and its tributary streams;
the lowland of the Missouri covered with undulating grass, nearly five feet
high, gradually rising into a .second plain, where rich weeds and flowers are
interspersed with copses of the Osage plum ; farther back were seen small
groves of trees, an a,bundance of grapes, the wild cherry of the Missouri,
resembling our own, but larger, and growing on a small bush, and the
choke-cherry, which we observed for the first time. Some of the grapes
gathered today are nearly ripe. On the south of the Nemaha and aliout
a quarter of a mile from its mouth, is a cliff of freestone, in which are
\arious inscriptions and marks made by the Indians. The sand island on
which we are encamped is covered with the two species of willow — broad
and narrow leaf."

"July 13. — W'e proceeded at sunrise with a fair wind from the south,
and at two miles passed the mouth of a small river on the north called
Big Tarkio. A channel from the bed of the Missouri once ran into this
river and formed an island called St. Joseph's, but the channel is now filled
up and the island is now added to the northern shore. Farther on to
the south is situated an extensive plain, covered with a grass resembling
timothy in its general appearance, except the seed, which is like flax seed,
and also a number of grape ^•ines. At twelve miles we passed an island on
the north, al)()\e which is a big sand bar covered with willows, and at
twenty and a half miles, stopped on a large sand bar in the middle of the
ri\er, op];)osite a high, handsome prairie, which extends to the hills four or

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

five miles distant, though near the bank the land is low and subject to be
overflowed. This day was exceedingly fine and pleasant, the storm of wind
last night from the northeast having cooled the air."

"July 14th.— \\^e had some hard showers of rain before seven o'clock,
when we set out. We had just reached the end of the sand island, and seen
the o))posite banks fall in, and so lined with timber that we could not
approach it without danger, when a sudden squall from the northeast struck
the boat on the starboard quarter and would certainly have dashed her to
pieces on the sand island if the party had not leai^ed into the river, and with
the aid of the anchor and cable, kept her oft" — the waves dashing over her
for a space of forty minutes, after which the river became almost instantly
calm and smooth. The two pirogues were ahead, in a situation nearly
similar, Init fortunately no damage was done to the boats or the loading.
The wind having shifted to the southeast, we came, at the distance of two
miles, to an island on the north, where we dined. One mile above, on the
same side of the river, is a small factory, where a merchant of St. I-ouis
traded with the Otoes and Pawnees two years ago. Near this is an exten-
sive lowland, part of which is overflowed occasionally, the rest is rich and
well limbered. The wind again changed to the northwest by north. At
seven and one-half miles, we reached the lower point of a large island. A
small distance above this point is a river, called by the Maha (now Omaha
Indians ) , the Nish-na-ba-tona. This is a considerable creek, nearly as large
as the Mine river, and runs parallel to the Missouri the greater part of its
cfiurse, lieing fifty yards wide at its mouth. In the prairies or glades, we saw
wild timothy, lambsc[uarter, cuckleberries, and. on the edge of the river,
summer grapes, plums and gooseberries. We also saw today for the first
time, some elk, at which some of the party shot, but at too great a distance.
We encamped on the north side of the island, a little above the Nishnaba-
tona, having made nine miles. The river fell a little.

"July 15th. — A thick fog prevented us leaving the encampment before
seven. yVt about four miles, we reached the extremity of the large island,
and crossing to the south (side of the Missouri!, at a distance of seven
miles, arrived at the Little Nemaha, a small river from the south, forty
yards wide a little above its mouth, but contracting as do most all rivers
em])tying into the Missouri at its confluence. '■' * *

LOUISIANA PURCHASE.

Because of the con(]uest of Canada in 1760, the province of Louisiana
alone remained to France, Init not for long. On November 3, 17OJ, it was

94 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

ceded to Spain, witli tlie exception of the eastern half, which fell to Eng-
land. The portion west of the Mississippi river, including what is now the
state of Nebraska, was thenceforth for thirty-eight years Spanish territory,
Ijut the Spaniards did not at once assume possession of the same. The east
])ortion taken by the English, passed on September 3, 1783, to the
Unitetl States, following the close of the Re\olutionary War. Later, (ju
October i, 1800, by the terms of a treaty concluded between the Emperor of
France, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the King of Spain, the western part then
under Spanish domination was re-ceded to France. This treaty was con-
firmed by a treaty at Madrid, starch 21, 1801. France, however, sold Louis-
iana Territory to the United States on April 30, 1803, which date was the
first that Nebraska passed officially under the fiag an.d authority of the
American government. An act was passed on Octoljer 31, 1803, l)y the
American Congress authorizing the President to take formal possession (if
the Louisiana Territory and form a temporary government thereof. Auth-
ority from this act vested the powers of government in such person or per-
sons and was to be exercised in the manner the President of the L^nited
States might direct. Amos Stoddard was then appointed as governor of
the new territory, which was known as Upper Louisiana. A later act of
Congress erected Louisiana into the "Territory of Orleans and the District
of Louisiana."

The purchase of Louisiana was negotiated under the administration
of Thomas JefYerson and the price paid amounted to fifteen million dollars.
France received in payment more than eleven million dollars in bonds from
the United States and the remainder of the purchase price was paid In- the
United States to citizens of this country in settlement of claims held b\- them
against the French government. No census of the territory had been taken,
but estimates placed the number of whites as l>eing no more than fifty thou-
-sand. James Wilkinson was appointed governor by President Jefiferson. and
I<'rederick Bates, secretary. St. Louis was made the capital. The judges
were J. Meigs and John P>. C. Lucas. Those, together with the governor,
constituted the Legislature.

TF.UKITORY OF MIS.SOIKI.

On June 4, 18 12, an act of Congress changed the Territory of Louis-
iana to the Territory of Missouri, included in the boundaries of which was
tlie present state of Nel)raska. This act provided for a g<nernor and secre-
tary, together with a Legislature composed of a council and House of Pc])-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 95

resentatives. Under , this arrangement the members of the House of Repre-
sentatives were to be elected Ijy the people and they, the House members,
were to submit the names of eighteen other persons from whom the Presi-
dent by and with the consent and advice of the Senate, would select nine to
serve as a council or upper branch of the Legislature. Judicial power was
vested in superior and inferior courts and justices of tlie peace. The judges
of these courts were selected by the President. On the 19th day of January,
18 16, the Legislature passed a law adopting the common law of England as
the law governing the territory and it so remained until the later davs, when
Governor Richardson was called upon to serve tiie people of Nebraska in
its more limited lx)undaries, and the repeal of the criminal code of this law
by an act of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature, was one of the first
troublesome features with which he had to deal upon his arrival to assume
charge of his new post.

TERRITORY OF KANSAS.

Out of what was known as the Territory of Missouri the new Territory
of Kansas came into being on the second day of March, 1819. Two years
later, on the 2nd day of March, 1821, the state of Missouri was created.
At first the boundary line on the west passed north and south at the mouth
of the Kansas river. In 1836, when the title of the lowas, Sacs and Foxes
was extinguished by a treaty, the boundary lines of Missouri was extended
west to the river, as it now exists. The new addition was known as the
Platte Purchase. On the west side of the river was what we n(jw know-
as southeast Nebraska, Richardson, Nemaha and Otoe counties.

In 1825 the United States government made a deal with the Kansas
Indians, whereljy they got lands held by that tribe l>etvveen the Kansas,
Missouri, Nemaha and Nodaway rivers, and later, in 1834, the Pawnee
Indians relinqui.shed their holding to the government. Their lands were all
located south 'of the Platte river in Nebraska. At aljout the same time most
of the land held by the Otoes and Missouri Indians between the Little and
Great Nemaha rivers passed to the government. In lieu of these concessions
Congress passed an act on June 30. 1834, designating that all of the country
west of the Mississippi, and not within the states of Louisiajia and Missouri
or tlie Territory of Arkansas, should be taken for the purposes set forth
in an act to be Indian country. This included what is now Nebraska.

During the years which followed until the erection of Nebraska as a
territorv, there was a flood of tra\el by gold seekers lured to the I'acilic

96 RICHARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

slopes, and before them tlie Mormon migratory movement and the niihtary
expeditions. Nebraska Territory lay in the path and must be crossed by all
on the long journey westward. It was the grand highway then as now for
western travel.

•' XEBR.\SKA TERRITORY CRE.\TED.

It required several attempts before Nebraska Territory was finally and
definitely erected by an act of Congress. The first effort in Congress to
make a territory west of the Missouri river was made in 1851, but this
atempt did not get to the voting stage. At a meeting of Congress the fol-
lowing year, 1S52-3, a bill was introduced by \\'illard P. Hall, a member of
the House from Missouri, organizing what should be known as the "Terri-
tory of the Platte," which included much of what is now Nebraska. The
bill was referred to the committee on territories, of which William A. Rich-
ardson, of Illinois, later to be governor of Nebraska, was a member.

Mr. Richardson reported a bill organizing about the same territory- into
a territory which he desired should be known as the "Territory of Ne-
braska". The bill met with strenuous opposition, but finally passed the
house on a vote standing ninety-eight to forty -three, on February 10, 1853.
It went to the Senate, where it also found opposition which prevented its
passage, at that session. When the following Congress convened, on Decem-
ber 14, 1853, Senator August C. Dodge, of Iowa, introduced a bill to organ-
ize the Territory of Nebraska. His bill had reference to the same territory
mentioned in the bills before former sessions of Congress, all of which
contemplated- the Platte river as the northern boundary line. Opposition to
the entry of Nebraska as a territory turned principally upon the question
of whether it should be lawful or not to hold slaves within the new territory.
Those members from the Southern states desired that slave territory be
extended while the Northern members were opposed to it.

During those several years while Congress was haggling over the mat-
ter, prospective settlers were gathering in the border states, desirous of being
allowed to enter the state for the purpose of taking up land for homes.
Tho.se people were restive of the dilatory tactics in Congress and at a meet-
ing held at Bellevue, Hadley D. Johnson, of their number, was selected and
commissioned to go to \\'^ashington to explain their wishes in the matter.
He was received by the committee having in charge the bill and given a
hearing. His efforts in the cause of the settlers so impressed Senator
Douglas that the latter secured the recommittal of the bill. On January 23,
1854, another bill was oft'ered in the Senate, greatly changed in form, which

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 97

passed that body on March 4th of that year. WiUiam A. Richardson, in the
House again introduced a bill, which in its form was very similar to the
Senate measure.

The final vote on the measure, and the one which carried it, was had on
May 24th and the same was approved by President Pierce, May 30, 1854.
The act, as passed, provided that Congress had no jurisdiction over the new
territory as regards the status of slave holding, but granted that the people
of the new territory should have the right and privilege of making laws
suitable to themselves covering this c|uestion.

The new territory thus taken in covered an area of three hundred and
fifty-one thousand five hundred and fifty-eight square miles and extended north
from the fortieth parallel of north latitude (the line between Kansas and
Nebraska) to the British possessions (the line between Canada and the
United States), from the eastern boundary (the Missouri river, dividing
Missouri and Iowa from Nebraska), west to the summit of the Rocky
mountains. On the 28th of February, 1861, the Territory of Colorado was
created and this reduced the area of Nebraska by some sixteen thousand
thirty-live square miles. On March 16, 1867, the Dakotas were formed and
further reduced Nebraska by two hundred and twenty-eight thousand nine
hundred and seven square miles ; and still later a tract of fifteen thousand
three hundred and seventy-eight was taken from Washington and Utah,
but this was later included in some forty-five thousand ninety-nine square
miles, which now forms a part of the state of Idaho. The present area of
the state of Nebraska is seventy-five thousand nine hundred and ninet)-five
square miles.

At the time the Louisiana Purchase was arranged between the United
States and the government of France, in 1803, slavery was a legalized insti-
tution, and many of the residents held slaves. In the treaty ceding the
territory to the United States, Napoleon had incorporated an expressed
stipulation that the inhabitants of Louisiana "Should be incorporated into
the Union of the United States and admitted as soon as possible, according
to the principles of the federal Constitution, to the enjoyment of all the
rights, advantages and immunities of citizens of the United States, and in
the meantime they should be maintained and protected in the free enjoy-
ment of their liberties, property and the religion which they professed."
The effect of this clause was to have much attention in later years when the
Territory of Nebraska was formed and was much debated in Congress when
the matter of slave holding in the territory was before Congress.
(7)

98 RICHARDSON COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT.

Tliis act passed by Congress in 1854, during the administration of
Franklin Pierce, for the purpose of organizing the Territories of Kansas
and Nebraska. It provided among other things, that the questions of slav-
ery should be left to the people; that questions involving the title of slaves
were to be left to the local courts, with the right to appeal to the United
States Supreme court ; and that the Fugitive slave laws were to apply to the
territories. Further, so far as this region was concerned, the ^lissouri Com-
promise of 1820, which excluded slavery from the Louisiana Purchase north
of latitude 36° 30' north, except from the state of Missouri, was declared
repealed. This measure disrupted the Whig party, most of the Southern
Whigs joining the Democrats, and led to the organization of the Republican
party in 1856. It was also one of the prime factors in bringing about the
Civil War.

CI I. \ ITER IV.
Early Settlement and Early Surveys.

"Now let us climb Nebraska's loftiest hill.
And from its summit view the scene beyond ;
The moon comes like an angel down from Heaven,
Its radiant face is the unclouded sun,
Its outspread wings, the overreaching sky.
Its voice, the charming minstrels of the sky.
Its breath, the fragrance of the bright wild flowers.
Behold the prairie, broad and grand and free —
'Tis God's own garden, unprofaned by man."

— -"Nebraska:" A Poem, 1854.

The unsettled region of southeastern Nebraska presented an attractive
and seductive picture to the pioneers of sixty years ago. The beautiful
and fertile wocxied valleys, the flowing streams, the vast reaches of the
upland prairies — all provided an enticemeent not equalled anywhere else in
this land. The early visitors to the country, from Coronado to the mem-
bers of the Lewis and Clark expedition, were all united in singing the
praises of the region which is now Richardson county, as being a fitting
abode for the industrious white man. The country round about, was a
paradise for the nomadic Indian tribes and the adventurous hunters and
trappers. It was a veritable Garden of Eden, awaiting the advent of the
hardy American pioneers, who would break the way for less venturous settlers,
who were to figure in the development of tlie land. The Missouri river was
an easy and comfortable method of reaching this land of plenty and afforded
transportation for the necessities of life and the meager lielongings of the
first comers and homeseekers to the county.

The earlv American pioneer was a distinct specimen oi humanity, fie
was dififerent from his fellow .-Xmericans in many ways. In Ins veins flowed

lOO RICHAK'DSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

the blood of generations of forbears, who had Hved on the frontier of civiH-
zation and were continuous homeseekers from both choice and necessity.
The pioneer ever had his vision turned to the Westward and dreamed of
wide ranges and far-reaching soHtudes, where he could live free and un-
molested far away from the trammels of civilization. It was his habit to be
moving- onward as each new section became peopled with followers, who
came to reap the benefits of his early hardships and toil in hewing a home
from the wilderness and prairies of the West. To the pioneer of the early
fifties must be given the credit for proving to the world that man could
exist and be comfortable in what was formerly called the "Great American
Desert."

WHERE THE PIONEERS CAME FROM.

The first families to journey to the region which is now Richardson
county, were of the real pioneer class, whose ancestors preceding them
were pioneers for many generations. They were from the state of Ten-
nessee, which had not yet reached its full development and has not done
so to this day. and from Missouri, ^''irginia, the mother of presidents and
the seat of some of the oldest families of the nation, mothered the progenitors
of this pioneer class. The Carolinas,-no doubt, had a share in producing
some of the ancestors of those venturous people who came to the banks of
the Missouri in the early fifties, to found homes and cities for themselves
and children. Their forbears were a restless and ambitious lot, who were
continually, from generation to generation, moving onward to newer fields
wherein to rear their families and find sustenance. From Virginia and
the Carolinas this migration spread to Tennessee and Kentucky. The chil-
dren of the Tennessee and Kentucky pioneers followed the river routes north-
westward to the newer lands. The navigable streams which coursed through
Tennessee to the Ohio, thence to the Mississippi and then up the Missouri
river, afforded a safe and easy means of transportation for their goods and
families.

Beyond certain sections, or more proper!}- speaking, the eastern section of
Nebraska, nature had placed difticulties in the way of the pioneer for founding
homes that to this day have not been fully overcome. Richardson county,
being situated in the basin of the ^lissouri river and its afiluents. made an
ideal place of residence and afforded a certainty of crop raising which the
more western sections of the state do not furnish. Hence, we find tliat
many of the earlier pioneers of this county remained aiKJ here reared fami-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. lOI

lies, who are at present the proud descendants of those who were the real
pioneers of the county.

The first homeseekers in the early fifties chose the breaks of the Mis-
souri and Nemaha rivers for their abiding places and avoided the high
uplands of the fertile prairie section for good and sufficient reasons. The
broken land in the region of old St. Stephens and Archer afforded two things
which the settler must have to sustain life — wood and water in abundance,
without the trouble of digging wells and carting the wood for his fireplace
a long distance. The settler selected the site for his home in the vicinity of
a forest and stream and more often near a gushing spring. He felled the
forest trees with which to build his cabin; game was plentiful in the woods
and fish abounded in the streams. His wants were simple and easily sup-
plied; he was comfortable and well fed. The pioneer and early homeseeker
passed by the marsh lands of the Nemaha and its smaller branch and sought
the high breaks of the southwestern part of the county, where were beauti-
ful and wooded valleys with flowing streams, which furnished ideal sites for
primitive homes. Some of the oldest families of Richardson county, who
are descended from these early pioneers, still reside in Speiser and Hum-
boldt precincts. They have broad acres and comfortable homes and are
prosperous and contented. The high hills and ranges afliord pasturage for
their herds and the wooded valleys afford homesites and areas of fertile,
cultivated land. This hilly country, which embraces the highest points in
the county, bids fair to witness another important development at the present
time. Geologists have stated that oil may be found in the depths of the
ground and capitalists are already drilling for the coveted mineral wealth.
Coal is found in the hills. Altogether, it is a desirable place of residence.

The pioneers who settled the eastern part of the county and made homes
in the Missouri river breaks, were the town builders and took an active part
in the early organization of the county. Their descendants at this day are
among the most prominent of the county citizenry and have accumulated
wealth and position through the foresight of their parents and their t)wn
inherent abilitv, in taking ad\'antage of the opportunities afforded by the
development of a new country.

FOUR EPOCHS IN SETT1,E.ME.\T PEKIOD.

For purposes of classification the settlement of Richardson county may
be divided into four distinct epochs, which include well-defined classes of
settlers. These epochs are as follow :

102 RICHARDSON COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

First. The real pioneer era, which dates from the year 1854 to i860 or
1 86 1. The men who came during this era were the hardy and adventurous
homeseekers, who left friends and relatives and old home ties behind them in
the older states in order to be the first to assist in building up a new state. Too
much credit cannot be given this class, inasmuch as they bore the brunt of the
solitude and the lonesome life and hardships incidental to living in an almost
unpeopled wilderness.

Second. The old settlers, or early settlement period. — The people who
came during the years from i860 to 1869 or 1870, were of a class who
came after the way was broken and while the population of the county
was yet sparse. They traveled overland from the older states and followed
the Missouri river as had their predecessors, found the land inviting and
remained to make a home and grow up with the county. \\^hile these people
are pioneers in a certain sense they can be better classed as "old settlers
of the second era of settlement.'" This era included 1866-1870.

Third. The homesteaders. After the enactment of the Homestead
Law. there was a rush of Civil ^\'ar veterans and people from the
older Middle West states to the county, to take advantage of the free
homesteads provided for in this act. The settlers came from Ohio, Illinois.
Indiana. Kentucky and Missouri during this era and settled upon the uplands
or prairies. The earl\- part of this period was a trying time to all classes
of settlers on account of the dry years. Many settlers and homesteaders
were forced to relinquish their homes and return to old home places. Those
who stayed and fought the good fight, reaped the rewards in later years of
abundant crops and prosperity which followed.

F^nirth. The era of building and development, and permanent settlers,
1 870- 1 890. — The free lands having all been taken up during the homesteading
era, another influx of settlers came to purchase the lands of their predecessors
and make permanent homes in the county. This class came from the older
states to the Eastward and from foreign lands. Many of these came with
funds with which to Iniy their farms and live stock. They were the builders
and developers of the county in a certain sense and the greatest industrial
progress which the c<nint\' has made dates from this influx.

lUCIIARDSON COCNTV PIONEERS.

The following is a list of those whd settled in Richardson county before
i860, as near as can be ascertained :

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO3

FALLS CITY.

1854: Wilson M. Maddox, Fred Harkendorff, Jesse Crook, Mary
Harkendorff. Mrs. Jesse Crook, Mr. William R. Crook. Mrs. J. R. Wilhite,

D. L. Thompson, Elias Minshell.

1855 : Benjamin F. Leechman and family, Lucinda Crook, James
Forney, \\'. H. Keeling.

1856: James Stumbo, G. J. Crook, John Crook.

1857: Frank Crook, J. R. Dowty, Polly Wamsle}-, Chris Wamsley.

1858: W. R. Goolsby, A. P. Forney, Mrs. Rose A. Allison, William

E. Dorrington, Isham Reavis and family, Mrs. Sarah Goolsby.

1859: John Fallstead, William McK. Maddox and family; Mrs. Daniel
Gantt, Anderson Miller, George W. Marsh, Margaret Miller, S. T. Miller,
Ike Allison, Elias Firebaugh.

1855
1856

1857
1858

1859

George Goolsby, A. D. Goolsby, A. H. Sloan.

J. F. Cornell, W. H. Cornell, Lavina Cornell.

C. F. Peabody, Isaac Clark and wife; T. C. Cunningham.

George D. Clark, J. W. Patterson, C. C. Parsons.

W. H. Mark, Emerson Smith, J. M. Dietrich, John Hossack,

W. S. Marsh, R. L. Marsh, T. S. Marsh.

1854: Abner Boyd, Mrs. J. T. Adams, W. H. Whitney.

1855: S. H. Roberts, Joseph Hare, Mrs. W. \\'. Spurlock, daughter
of J. C. Lincoln; S. P. Gist, J. C. Lincoln and wife.
" 1856: W. A. Crook.

1857: William Kinsey, and family: Will Whitney.

1859: Ester Waggoner, H. C. Jemiings, Morris Malone, J. H. Cum-
mings, Stewart Russell.

[856
[858

J. Robert Cain.

William C. Hall. Mrs. Kate Messier.

G. W. Smith, M. H. Van Deventer.

[04 RICH ARnSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

1854: John B. Didier.

1856: Charles Jenkins, Fulton Peters

1855 : Ellis Goolsby.
1859: Daniel Riley.

HUMBOLDT.

1853 : Joseph Zulek, Charles Zulek.

1854: Samuel Bobst.

1857: H. D. Tinker, O. J. Tinker, Edward P. Tinker, Franklin
Fersuson.

1854: Thomas F. Brown, Davis Speiser, Sr.
1856: George Riechers (now of Falls City).

ST. STEPHENS (NOW BAR.\DA TOWNSHIP).

1855 • William R. Cain, and family.

1848: Stephen Story and wife.

Others who settled in the county before i860, were: 1854. Rebecca
T. Edwards, 1855: George Coffman, 1856; J. O. Stout, James Dedrich, Mrs.
A. H. Cornell; 1857, Z. J. Parsons, L. A. Kinsey; 1858, S. J. Harris. James
Clark, William Colerick: 1859, William Parchen. A\'illiam Rieschick; 1858,
J. G. Wist, 1859. Mrs. George Linsicum; 1858, Airs. J. B. Morton; 1859,
Margaret Maddox; 1855, J. C. Miller; 1854, Christian Bobst; 1853, Con-
rad Smith, Rulo; 1855, Mrs. Dan Van \'alkenburg, Rulo; 1854,
C. W. Roberts, Salem; 1856. J. R. Kelley, Salem; 1855, Mrs. Mary A.
Hurley. Humboldt: 1855, Margaret Higgins Edwards, J. F. Shubert; 1859,
Sarah K. Goolsby, Verdon.; 1858, Mrs. Eliza Clark, Verdon; 1858, Mrs. Kate
Thomas; 1855, Isaac Crook, Archer; 1854, Charles Rouleau and Eli Bedard.
Rulo; 1857, Eli Plante, Rulo; 1854, William Level, Archer, and Frank L.
Goldsherry.

IIARDSHIl'S OF THE PIONEERS.

Surrounded as we are in Richardson county today with comforts in-
numerable and attendant prosperity, ,so prodigal that its resources seem ex-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lOS

haustless, many of us are inclined to scorn the achievements of the pasi,
claiming, as we do, for ourselves the credit for what our county is today.
We would not minimize what is being done nor what has been done, fully
recognizing, as we do, the high standard of the present sojourner here;
but while giving credit in fulsome measure, it is urged that it should not
be carried to the point of forgetting our debt for this heritage from those
who have gone before, and that they are responsible to a very large degree
for the present happy condition.

While we have grown from a few scattered hamlets on the Missouri
river bluffs to a county recognized throughout the state as one among the
very first in wealth and importance, we must recognize that these blessings
are but the ripened fruit from the sacrifices, privations, labor and forethought
of the men, and women, too, who first came to the county and caught the
vision of its possibilities. Through all the trials and adversities common
to that period, their courage stood firm, and their spirit mounted to a vision
that many lived to see in the fulness of its fruition. In the face of all the
seemingly unsurmountable difficulties and obstacles, there was ever among
them an indomitable spirit which did not falter, but was as proud and true
as found in the peoples who liave pioneered any country in the history of
mankind.

It is almost impossible for us of this day and generation, to properly
visualize the foreboding prospect \\hich faced' the pioneer who came here
in the first, second and third decades of the county's settlement. Where
we find paved streets, well-defined roads and good bridges, green fields and
beautiful groves, they saw only pathless prairies and tangled grasses in the
valleys — a part of the center and solitude of the Great American Desert
or great plains. Land was the cheapest thing in sight; its expanse and vast-
ness were appalling. The countrv was one open wilderness, trackless, un-
known, and the home only of the wild animals and aborigines, whose habita-
tion dates back of written history. Where we retire each night in comfortable,
modern homes, protected by an established order of government, at peace
with all mankind, they sought slumber under the starry canopy of Heaven,
beside the trail, or in the dug-out or sod house, never knowing when their
lonely shelter might l>e sought out by the Indian on the warpatli. and their
lives made to pay forfeit for their intrusion. Over the same country that
they viewed from the heavy, ox-drawn, cumbersome wagon in long, weari-
some journey, we speed in high-powered motor, with hundredfold more
radius of travel.' With the telegraph, and the telephone in every house, we

I06 Rl<_HARnSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

are enabled to have instant and personal communication with distant friends.
where they had to wait for weeks and months for the letter l)rought by the
freighter or passing traveler.

But they came ; not because they had been actually crowded out at home
— many leaving comparative comfort behind, and staked their all on the
caprice of a bare, naked chance that they would be able to survive the
rigorous vicissitudes that must come before such a world could be con-
quered. They found arid ands of the prairie and conquered them; they
built towns and villages where before had been a solitude.

WHITE RACE PIONEERS OF CIVILIZATION.

The white race, unlike their brethren of other peoples, ha\e been pre-
eminent from the dawn of history as the pathfinders who have migrated to
the four corners of the globe and traversed the recesses of the darkest conti-
nents in quest of adventure and excitement, with the consequent gain that
has always followed in the wake of their undertakings. The stout hearts
of this pioneering people have braved every danger, overcome every obstacle
incident to travel or climate, conquered the savage wherever found, subdued
the wild beast and the land, and prepared and made safe the sections visited
for the host that followed. Leaving Europe, they played star parts in
bringing dominion over the Americas. Our pioneers were the advance guard
of the great movement, which has now penetrated every part of North Amer-
ica. Those coming here were in advance of their time and because the
title to the lands were still held by the aborigines, had to be restrained
by the government from entering the territory until the spring of 1854.
Those pioneers, many of them, had reached western Missouri a year or two
previous and had taken up temporary residence there, pending such action
by the government as might open the country for settlement to the whites.
The Indian titles under the treaties made many years before were not extin-
guished until 1854, and the act known as the Kansas-Nebraska bill, did
not reach its final stage of passage until May, 1854.

This being the case when the settlers arrived in 1854, they found the
season far too much advanced for the preparation of the land, so necessary
for the successful growing of crops that year. Jesse Crook had taken a claim,
included in which was the land now known as the William Nutter farm, the
east half of the northeast quarter of section 2. of township 1. uortii of
range 16, and had succeeded in breaking up a jiart of it: to be exact, that
part south of the present new home of Mr. Nutter; luit what lie or his few

RICHARUSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO7

neighbors were able to Ijreak that year was very Httle, and the claim is
made by some that not one entire section was brought under the plow that
year. Under such conditions, those who came in that year, not being able
to subsist on what could be produced in the ntw country, were obliged to
rel\- on what they had brought, or were able to obtain, fmm the other side
of the river. The following winter is said to have been mild compared
to what had been expected, and with the coming of spring and the infln.x
of a new crop of settlers, a real, earnest effort was made to break up the
land. This was a tedious, difficult and slow task to be performed with the
farming utensils at hand, but a good showing was made. We, of today,
can scarcely gauge the intense interest that must have been manifest among
those people, who had the honor of putting in the first crop ever attempted
to be raised by white men in this unknown and untried region. But we
know they must have had little time to moralize on what they were doing
as, the while, their interest was quickened by the ever-present wolf of dire
necessity, which stalked their foosteps, and then as now, there were mouths
to • feed. Those people, with scanty stores, who had come long distance.^
from friends or loved ones, expecting to wring an existence from the soil,
watched those efforts with many misgivings; but the season of 1855 was
on its good behavior and all conditions considered, the harvest was ample.
What had been regarded in the light of an experiment, had now developed
into a wondrous reality — the land properly handled had proved, as it has
ever proved, the one Ijest friend to its children. The story of the success
of those who had come, quickly found its way Eastward to those who had
waited for another to open the gate, and they came in ever-increasing num-
bers to try their fortunes in the West. The press of the countr\- was solic-
ited in a campaign made to induce settlement in the ne\\- territory and the
results were effective in the way of inducing many to join in the develop-
ment of the country : but the country was new and large and the settlement
seemed slow to those from the more densely settled section of the East. Land
was cheaj): it seemed like all out-of-doors was lying here awaiting the hand
of the plowman — but the market was not good and money was scarce.

LEGISLATIVE KKLIEF.

It was at this period — in 1856 — that the Territorial Legislature took
a hand and thought to alleviate conditions in a financial way, by the intro-
duction of systems of finance, calculated to make money easier to lie had.

What thev did, if viewed in the light of present conditions, seemetl to

I08 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

have teen the height of folly; but judged from conditions as the\ subse-
quently existed, notably in 1896, when the entire country was aroused over
the nation's finances — the mantle of charity might well be used in considera-
tion of what was done by these embryo legislators, who had thought to
ameliorate the condition of a handful of settlers in the western territory.

This wild-cat money period was initiated by the Territorial AssemJ^ly
meeting at Omaha, in the winter of 1856, where it was arranged for the
establishment of what was known as "banks of issue," which it claimed
would accomplish the ends desired. Six of such banks were soon in opera-
tion and represented one for each five hundred of the population in the
territory at the time mentioned.

Under the charters given, they were allowed pnwer to issue as many
dollars of indebtedness as the circumstances of each individual shareholder
might demand for themselves. This country had not. at that time, progressed
so far as now, in a knowledge of correct financial methods, and the effect
that followed the operations of these banks when they got into business,
seemed at first to have solved the problem, and perhaps to a greater degree
than was anticipated.

Undertakings, previously forestalled for lack of capital, were now under
no such impediment, for money, such as it was, was plentiful. Under this
stimulus, the wildest speculation was indulged in; cities sprang up as if In-
magic — townsites were platted and staked out. Beautifully lithographed
stock shares in these townsite companies were bandied about, and everyone
seemed engaged in boosting for some town which was sure to become the
metropolis. Smooth dealers had agents in other states, where many of these
lots were sold to unsuspecting purchasers at fabulous prices. Every man
who had a claim, became obsessed with the idea that his was the location
for the city of the future and interested himself in getting townsite companies
formed and spent too much of his time in chasing such phantoms, when hv
might better have been employed in looking after the development of his
lands

SPECULATION .\T FEVER HEAT.

The fe\er for speculation in all manner of schemes jiut afloat, possessed
the people of all communities and had the effect of luring men away from
the land, and in such a state of affairs, a less acreage, acconling t" the
population, was tilled than formerly. The b<wm thus occasioned, lunvexer.
was characteristic of similar fluctuating inflations which have visited the stale.
Init was temporary. There were a few far-sighted men in the territory

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO9

at the time who could forecast the results sure to follow what was happen-
ing, but the}- were so much in the minority that in 1857 the elections of
the fall brought together another legislative assembly, which, instead of
gi\-ing relief, was so thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the times that
more of the wild-cat banks were given charters, and further aid was ex-
tended those fostering schemes for making easy money.

Many new towns were mapped out and more agents were at work selling
stock and lots. A period of the wildest speculation existed around those
paper towns: but the bubble was soon to burst and carry down the usual
crop of fools, ruined and bankrupt. Ruin, poverty and utter desolation
were now the common fare of an entire population which had been seduced
into strange paths in c|uest of easy money.

Those few not enamored by the glittering prospects so temptingly offered
and who had remained with the soil as actual producers, were the ones
best pi-epared to weather the storm. The long, dreary, cold winter of 1858
found the people but little prepared as they had produced little and had
exhausted the supplies they had. During this period a chance offered for
study and reflection and many learned that the new country was more in
need of producers and people to till the soil than of real-estate and town
boomers. The experience thus gained was read into revision and improve-
ment of the banking laws, which have ever proved beneficent to the people
of the state.

The following year was none too good for the real-estate broker and
town-lot hawkers, and they quickly di.sappeared as a class. With their going
a renewed and rightly directed interest was manifest in the work of improv-
ing agricultural conditions, which has since kept a continual flow of gold
inward to the people of the state. Thus, for the first time the boats leaving
for the South bore away cargoes of grain and live stock, which in turn
brought back monev to be used for the further de\elopment of the countr)-.

Right at that time the people became embroiled in one of the bitterest
of contests — that of designating a permanent point for the county seat.
In all new countries might makes right to a far greater extent than in
those more fully systemized. The settlement of the river tier i.f counties,
of which Richardson is the farthest south and of the first, so far preceded
that of the counties King further west, that much of what was endured
here was not repeatetl in the latter.

I lO RICHARDSON COLXTV, NEBRASKA.

From the date of the organization of the count}- in Marcli, 1855, when
Archer was designated as the county seat, there was a brief period of peace,
liut from the following year, when the county seat was removed to Salem,
there was for nearly fifteen years a constant strife, which stirred the people
from one end of the county to the other and the effects of which was felt
in the community for many years.

An act approved by the Territorial Legislature on February g. 1857,
provided for an election to determine the county seat of Richardson county
and appointed the first Thursday of April, the same year, the date of
balloting. The election resulted in the defeat of Falls City and the choice
of Salem as the county seat. The county offices were not, however, moved
to Salem at once, and before their removal an election for a permanent loca-
tion of the county seat had been held, the contestants receiving an equal
number of ballots each, and the election was virtually undecided. Although
the first election had resulted in the choice of Salem, many of the appurte-
nances of the county seat had not been removed to that point and when the
later elections finally determined that Falls City should be the county seat,
they took up their final al^ode in this cit}-.

THE EPIL5EMIC OF 1 86o.

The early summer of i860 was signalized by the advent of the most
fatal and contagious disease which has ever visited the county. This was the
bloodv flux; something resembling acute dysentery. The disease was supposed
to have started at Rulo. having been brought there by emigrants cm smne
river steamer. It was not confined to that town, but spread rapidl\-. untd
only the sparseness of the population prevented a strong likeness to the
scenes of the great plague in London. In Salem as many as sixteen died
fnim this disease in one week, but at the other settlements it was not so bad,
I'alls City having had scarcely an\- cases. In the newspapers of the time, it
was magnified beyond all due proportions, but a careful investigation of
the matter robs it of much of its terror. It was epidemic, and caused many
deaths, yet ran its course rapidly and disappeared so quickly as to leave
little impression on the memory of the busy pioneers.

CLAIM JUMl'ING.

The process of "claim jum]iing."' or obtaining by means at least ques-
tionable, the lands nu which others had made settlement, was frct|uently

RTCriARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. Ill

in practice in 1857. The person who was "jumped." very frequently was
a non-resident, and had simply made a claim as a speculation, intending
to pre-empt if there seemed a probability of rapid increase in the value
of his land, or to allow a lapse if it suited his convenience. Many of those
who built claim shanties to hold the land for them until they could return
with their families from Missouri or points East, returned to find the claim
house demolished and some newcomer fully settled. An apt illustration of
the state of things at that time is the case of Mr. Berry, who came to a
point near Humboldt and located a claim by building thereon a log affair
of legal size. Returning to his former home in Kansas, he loaded his wagons
and started out on his return in the spring of 1858. When near Salem, his
wife became so ill as imperatively to need rest, and Mr. Berry, accompanied
by his son, proceeded up the Nemaha to the location of their claims.

The son's claim was the first visited, and here were found the ruins
of the claim hut and evidences of calm usurpation on someone's part. This
could hardly be called a surprise, for the son was unmarried, and had small
hopes of retaining his claim in any event. Continuing their investigation
in the dusk, which had already commenced, the father and son saw a light
gleaming from the house, which had been put up on the preceding visit.
Without attempting to dispossess the intruders, the Berrys turned to the
cabin of a settler on the next claim, where they learned that a young married
couple had thought the new nest just what they needed, and had taken
possession without the formality of a lease.

It must be remembered that although the Berrys had put up a claim
shanty, they had not a scrap of paper to show in proof of their legal right
to the land. Armed, then, only with the unwritten code of those early days,
voung Berry entered the cabin and demanded of the wife of the "jumper."
she being its only occupant, instant evacuation. This was as promptly re-
fused, and after allowing five minutes for the removal of the household goods.
Berry, with the assistance of a sister, who had joined him, deposited them
in a heap on the ground, just outside the door. This done, the wagons (jf
the settlers were driven up, and the goods unpacked and placed in the dwelling.

At about this time young Berry saw the man whose goods he had so
summarily evicted, stealing along beside a pile of firewood. On reaching
the chopping block he seized tlie ax, which was lying there, and rushed
toward the house, pouring out vile epithets upon his enemies and apparentl)
intending to drive them out again. Young Berry, however, caught up an
old musket, and returned the attack of the ax man with a ba\onet charge.

112 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

It was ancient warfare against the modern — the battle ax against firearms :
and the latter won the day, the intruder being run down and forced to
return and offer an ample apology for his scurrilous language.

Shortly after that young Berry was returning home in the afternoon,
when he discovered the rudiments of an adobe hut on his claim, and near
it was a boy guarding some tools. Inquiry developed the fact that his
enemy was again attempting to gain a foothold on which to get a title to
the land. The boy was dispatched to the owner of the tools with a lucid and
laconic message to the effect that further building on that site would be
unhealthy, and the hint was frankly accepted. In other parts of the county
"claim jumpers" were much more harshly treated, and old settlers could
probably tell many tales of the vindication of innate right, did not the sense
of prudence forbid.

THE JAY-HAWKERS OF 1862.

All through the years of the War of the Rebellion, there were scattered
bands of men who went by the name of "jayhawkers." Those bands were
plentiful enough along the frontier line of the North and South parties, and
although nominally under one flag or the other, had oftentimes a freedom
from allegiance to anyone save themselves that was very convenient. Odier
bands, while fully as freebooting, were strong in their allegiance to their
party. Such a band was raised near the Kansas and Nebraska line early
in the war and made constant forays into the vexed and rebellious Missouri
border. On one occasion, this band, passing eastward through Falls City and
returning to a camp just west of town, were pursued by a force of Union
soldiers, who had perforce acceded to the demands of despoiled Missourians
for redress. Upon the arrival of the Federal troops at Falls City, the camp
of the jayhawkers was in full sight; but while the troops were resting and
giving a hearing to the various charges of the "secesh," who had accompanied
them in the hope of getting extra advantages thereby, the marauders moved
over to the south of the Kansas line. Here no engagement took place, for
the simple reason that the jayhawking party had l)een increased to formidable
proportions and the handful of soldiers were powerless. It is broadly hinted
that the Federalists surrendered with very good grace and without any
needless bitterness, and some old settlers make still stronger statements. The
fact remains that the troops returned peaceably to their (|uarters in IMis-
souri, and that the most serious result of their attack was the depleted larders
of the l^'alls Citv citizens.

HON. JERRY FKNTOX
Dawsdu IMoiieer.

JOHN 1). Sl'KACINS,
rolice JwlKe.

RTCHARDSOX COUXTV, NEBRASKA. II3

At the time of tlieir first occupation of Falls Citv, manv of the most
pronounced Union men felt anything but easy, and undoubtedly there was
considerable danger, as the charges preferred against them by the fire-eating
delegation which accompanied the troops were of the most serious character,
and had they been acted upon by the troops, would have made matters un-
pleasant. Other jayhawking- parties made their appearance from time to time,
and executed their peculiar tactics, but none of these later forays were
prolific of incidents worthy of remembrance. \\'ith the close of the war.
fighting and jayhawking for a living fell into disfavor and later was entireh-
abandoned.

THE "underground" RAILROAD.

Old John Brown, who died just before the war in a futile attempt to
hasten the "good time coming," which had formed so large a part of his
life's hopes, spent a large amount of his time in Richardson county. One
of his stations was located on the blufif near Falls City, and after a time in
the city itself. Many of the older residents ha\e vivid remembrances of
the stalwart old hero and his eccentric ways of bringing sinners to book.
A sample of his quality comes out in strong relief in the simple story of
one of the last trips of his dusky train. On the route a child was born, and,
with the grateful courtesy so natural with the race, was named "John
Brown."' Arriving at the station near Falls City, the refugees were overtaken
by a band of South Carolina rangers, who proposed to reconvey their chattels,
without loss of time, to the galling serfdom of the "sunny South." In this,
however, the proud Southerners reckoned wrongly, for John Brown's force
surrounded them and forced submission to a superior force. What fol-
lowed must have been a sight for the gods and men, f(jr old John Brown,
stepping to the front, deUvered a scathing rebuke for the profanity which
had been so freely heaped upon the colored folks, and then forced the rangers
kneeling, to repeat the Lord's Prayer after him. Then depriving them of
their horses and arms, he started them homeward. It is safe to say that
the Lord's Prayer was fully remembered 1)}' them as the\- plodded wearily
back to the coast, and that "nigger catching" seemed less amusing by half
ere the trip was over.

A little prior to this time, the "nigger catchers" had made a neat specu-
lation out of the avarice of the Indians living nearby. Emancipation was
breathed on every wind that blew from the South to the North, and the
slaves could not wait for that great boon to come. They must reach out
(8)

114 RICTIAUnSON COr.N'TY, NEBRASKA.

and grasp it for themselves. Thus it came about that the exodus of scatter-
ing slaves was nearly constant, and the rewards of their exasperated owners
placed at a high figure. It was hardly profitable for a white man to hunt
negroes, for the whole sport had acquired a bad, in fact a villainous, odor
in the nostrils of the community. Yet, many did not scruple to detain
the fugitives under one pretext or another, until the owners could send for
them, and some even employed the Indian braves, who were familiar with
all the hiding places along the heavily timbered river bottoms, to bring in
captives. On one occasion, Sewall Jemison, the editor of the Broad A.vc,
came upon two parties who were haggling over the price to be paid for a
runaway slave, who stood near them, apparently resigned to his fate. While
the Indian buck was explaining that for so fat and large a prize a liberal
price should be paid, Jemison captured the bone of contention, and sent him
off by a special train of the underground railway. To record a tithe of the
exploits of John Brown and his friends on the northern Kansas trail, through
Brown county to Richardson county, Nebraska, and thence northward, would
require a book of considerable size. Of these daring feats Falls City and
points nearby were oftentimes the theater, but the history of the time so
recent, and yet so old in the life of a Western town, has already drifted
out of the memory of its witnesses, and is written nowhere so fully as in that
ledger whose fast-filling pages are ever unfilled and whose balance sheet
is perfect.

FIRST FRENCH SETTLEMENT IN RICHARDSON COUNTY.

To the French must be awarded the honor of having been among the
very first of the white settlers of the county, and looking backward at this
late date, it seems strange that it should have been so from the fact that
there now remain so few of that nationality in the county and they but the
descendants of those early pioneers.

The first settlement was made in the summer of 1855, when E. H.
Johnson together with William Kenceleur, Charles Rouleau, Eli Bedard and
Eli Plante reached the present site of Rulo, coming thereto from Sioux Cit}-,
Iowa. This party stopped overnight, as they entered the county at the north,
and were guests of John B. Didier, also a Frenchman, who then resided in
what is now Barada township. It is worthy of note that j\Ir. Didier. who had
preceded them as a resident of Richardson county, has outlived them all, and
now at tlie advanced age of more tiian ninety years, is still among us and a
resident of the identical farm on which these early pioneers found him.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II5

Their visit was made for the purpose of inspecting lands allotted to
their wives under the treaty of 1831, made with the Indians at Prairie du
Chien, Wisconsin. Under the terms of this treaty the wives of these men,
being classed as partly Indian blood or mixed bloods, were entitled each
to a half section of land in what is known as the half-breed tract, in the
east part of the county, along the Missouri.

At the time of their arrival they found but two white men resiiling
here, and they the husbands of Indian women. One of the two was U. X.
DuPuis, the husband of the widow of "White Cloud," the noted old head
chief of the Iowa Indians. "White Cloud," the last and most famous of die
real and regular chiefs of this tribe had died but a short time prior to
the arrival of this party and was interred in the Rulo cemetery, located a
little to the north and west of the village. The other of the two "whites"
was Charles Martin, tlian whom, there never lived a more pict.urescjue or
chivalric character of the old plains and mountains. Martin was a daring
and wonderful hunter, who had spent years on the plains and Western
mountains, before there had been any thought of settlement by the white
people in this section of the country. He was possessed in full measure
of distinguishing traits, which marked him well, even at a period and among
a class of people not at all lacking in great personal courage. He was
remarkable even in his person and appearance and is described like most
of the great plainsman type, tall and straight, like the Indian with whom he
had spent much of his life, and was of commanding figure, Roman-nosed
and keen of eye. In his life on the plains he had spent many years in
the tractless solitudes of the great prairies as a trapper and hunter. In
the late forties he had, while hunting high up in the mountains of Utah,
come accidently upon a camp of an Indian tribe, who had lately lost their
chief in battle with another hostile Indian band, and had captured an Indian
maiden of the enemy people. According to custom with them, the Indians
were at the time engaged in the work of making a sacrifice of the dusky
captive partly to appease the spirit of the departed chief and in retaliation
for the great loss they had suffered. The ceremony, which was of a highly
religious order had been viewed for some time by the hunter at a safe dis-
tance, but when he realized the ghastly significance of it all and saw that
thev really meant to destroy the life of the maiden, who had already been
bound to the pyre, he at once interceded and after much parley succeeded
in effecting her purchase, explaining to them that the ends would all be
served bv her utter banishment from the land, as he would carr\- her away

lid RICIIAUDSOX COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

to an unknown country far from the land of her fathers. In exchange he
gave some ponies and tents he had in his equipment

When the French party of settlers led by Rouleau and Bedard. and
Plante. arri\ed at Rouleau, or Rulo, as it is now called, they found Martin and
his captive, who had but recently journeyed thither and she was his wife.
It is attested b\- those who knew them in the many }-ears that followed.
that she made for him a most estimable helpmate. Martin was one of the
pioneer merchants of Rulo, putting up the first store and engaging in busi-
ness with F. I,. Goldsberry, the latter for many years a prominent figure
in the county.

In the year following — 1856 — this party made permanent settlement
at Rulo and the town took its name from Charles Rouleau, the h>enchman,
and member of the expedition. Rouleau and Bedard had married sisters and
were the chief founders of the city. At that time Stephen Story was the
other I inly wliite settler of the county, e.xcept John B. Didier, known to this
part}- and he was found near the site of what was afterwards the village of
St. Stej.hens founded and named by him.

Tin-: BOHEMIAX SETTLEMENT AT HUMBOLDT.

Alany people of many lands, impelled to leave their old homes through
persecutions and misrule at various periods in their mother countries, have
sought and still continue to seek new and peaceful homes in this land of
the free. But nf all these, few, perhaps have a histor\- so dramatic, e\en
tragical as it has often been referred to, as the Bohemian immigrant.

The first Bohemian to locate near the present site of Humlx)ldt was
Charles Zulek. Leaving his native home with his family in 1854 he came
direct to America, spending the first winter in Illinois. In the winter of
1855 he started west in search of a home, arriving at St. Joseph, Missouri.
in the early days of June. Proceeding thence by Jioat to .\rago. in tiiis
county, where they were attracted l)y the fertility of the country, they
decided to settle. The early hardships of this pioneer family were typical
of all the settlers of that period. It is said that Zulek often walked to St.
Joseph (a distance of seventy miles) for ins iirovisious. carrying them home
on his back. And when the l)urden became too heavy, he divided it, carrying
a part foi- ^ome distance, then returning for the other ])art, and so on until
he reached lionie.

Later, when the homestead law was put into effect, a number of liohemi-
ans came to Xeliniska. I'"irst among them was b'rank Skaiak. who was also

KICIIAKUSUN COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II7

tlie first to take a homestead on the prairie. Skalal< left Bohemia in iS(>5,
coming- West by way of Chicago, where there was a flourishing Bohemian
settement. At St. Joseph, Missouri, Frank Skalak with his farnily took a Ijoat
for Arago, where they accidentally became acquainted with Zulek. On that
day Zulek had come to Arago to secure, if possiljle, a loan to pa\- off an
obligation he was owing a party in Missouri. Being a countryman he imme-
diately secured the loan from Skalak, although they had never met before.
Thereupon, Skalak with his family returned with Zulek to locate in this sec-
tion of the country. Wenzel Skalak, then a boy, now one of the prominent
Ijusiness men of Humboldt, declares that the loan then made was a most
fortunate one indeed, as it was the means of causing- them to locate here.
However, he does not advise so hazardous a method of curbstone banking as
that was.

In recounting- those early clays he related that he hired out to Zulek
for the munificent sum of forty dollars per year, Ijreaking sod barefooted
in grass, waist high, using a twenty- four-inch plow and driving from four
to six yoke of oxen. He had to walk to Arago or \eliraska Cit)- to have
his plow sharpened. Their provisions were also secured at those places.
In 1867 Ruel Nims & Company opened the first store in Humboldt, occu-
pying the old stone store facing the old bed of the Long Branch, a short
distance south of the present business section of Humboldt. Young Wenzel
at once secured a position as a clerk with this firm, receiving five dollars
per month salary. Being an efficient clerk his salary was soon increased to
ten dollars per month, the following year. He afterwards was in the employ-
ment of various firms in the city until he engaged in business for himself,
n(3w owning- the large hardware and implement business on the west side
of the public square in the city. John Wohoun, another pioneer, setlleil
on the prairie with the Skalaks and in\ited their friends (Bohemians) and
soon had a nucleus, from which grew one of the largest settlements of
foreigners in the county. Those who secured homesteads at this time were :
Anton Eis, M. Nemechek, Ferdinand I'idermutz, John Petrashek. \'acia\
Prachal, Vaclav Holechek, Jan Janata, Ferd Blecha, Fr. Xemecliek, Jos.
Musil, Jno. Cizner, and X'aclav Hlavaty. All of these men who braved tlie
hardships of the early pioneer are n(jw dead, save one, b'rank Xeniechek, Sr..
who still resides on the place he chose when coming to the state. The
Bohemian settlement at Hunijjoldt is without doubt the oldest of that peoi)Ie
in the state. One of the chief factors in holding the settlement together was
the organization of a fraternal society known as the C. S. V. S. (Bohemian

Il8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Slavonic Benevolent Association), which was organized in the United States
but a few years before their coming here. The local lodge was organized
May 31, 1879, with the following charter members: Fr. Novak, F. A. Witt,
Wenzel Skalak, Fr. Hubwa, Vaclav Pracheji, Jos. Hon, Fr. Hon, Jos. Novak,
\'ojta Kohn, Vojta Blecha, Vac. Wiesner, Jas. Blecha, Fr. Hnizda, J. J.
Dvorak, Jos. Rousek, and R. \^ertisaka. But three of the charter members
now reside here and only half of them are still living. The lodge was organized
for fraternal, beneficiary, educational and social purposes. For many years
a Bohemian school was maintained, so that the younger generation might
have opportunity to learn something of the mother tongue and the history
of the great men among the people, the pictures of many of whom adorned the
walls of the homes beside those of Washington and Lincoln, and to whom
they were often compared. A library was also established, from which
Bohemian books could be had free by those desiring the same. In later times
other Bohemian societies were formed among which were the J. C. D.
(Bohemian Ladies Society) and among the young people the Sokols and
Komensky Club; the former, an organization of Bohemian Turners and
the latter, a literary society. The C. S. P. S. is in the most flourishing con-
dition of them all at the present time, having a membership of more than a
hundred and owns its own home and grounds.

Inasmuch as the chief industry of the Bohemian in his native land was
that of agriculture, so it has been here, and they are today numbered among
the most industrious and successful of the farming community here. Vet
all along the Bohemian has been well represented in the business circles of
Humboldt. All are prosperous and well-to-do and more than ordinarily
successful in the various occupations in which they may he found engaged.
All along they have taken a keen interest in the upbuilding of the commun-
ity to which they gave a large impetus for settlement. Although at first,
many of the customs and traditions of the old world were adhered tn, yet
they have now been discarded and even the most typical Bohemian immi-
grant has been transformed into a patriotic, peaceful, contented American.
Although they still cling to their mother tongue, even that is giving wa\
to the language of the new world. It will be, too, only a matter of time
when even this pioneer settlement will lose its Bohemian characteristics
altogether and become thoroughly Americanized. Only the old Bohemian
cemetery in the west end of the county will bear testimony to the fact
that here the Bohemian settler had once found that haven which he sought
and in return gave birth to a newer, happier posterity.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FIRST COLONY OF IRISH PIONEERS.

Daniel Webster, at the dedication of the Bunker Hill monument, immor-
talized the Pilgrim Fathers for their heroism in the settlement of New
England, but not less worthy of commendation was the love of home and
spirit of lofty independence that animated the pioneers who crossed the
Missouri river half a century and more ago.

Michael Riley and Thomas F"arrell, brothers-in-law, found conditions
in their native land as intolerable as did the "Mayflower' Pilgrims, and the
saine aspiration for freedom and manly independence impelled them to join
in the wake of many thousands of their countrymen who were immigrating
from Ireland in the middle of the last century. After a few years residence at
Salem, New Jersey, they and their equally plucky young wives determined to
go West in quest of homes and independence.

They landed in Richardson county in 1859 practically penniless. From
the first observation of the country they were impressed with its future
possibilities and they wisely decided to cast anchor and grow up with it.
In the meantime they continued to correspond with relatives in New England,
with the result that in the spring of 1867 Bryan Riley and two sons, and
Thomas, Dennis and Nora Fenton proceeded West, on the strength of the
pioneer representation. St-. Joseph, Missouri, was at this period the nearest
point by rail, and after passage on the river steamboat to Aspinwall and a
drive across the boundless prairie, at last the humble but hospitable log
cabin home of Michael Riley was located on the bank of the Nemaha, not
far from the site of the present village of Dawson. On entering the home
of his long-separated brother, Bryan Riley was first awakened to the changed
conditions of Western life: the door of the log house was too low to admit
of a tall man's entrance without making a low bow, and as Mr. Rilev was
of an unbending spirit, he received a bump on the forehead that made him
declare forcibly that he was ready to go back to civilization on the return
steamboat. After breakfast on the following morning and a look through
the yards of fine cattle and fat hogs, not overlooking well-filled smoke
houses and bulging corncribs, the lump on his forehead gave way to a
desire to possess a portion of the rich soil, and after perfecting titles to as
much of it as their means afforded, Thomas Fenton at once returned to
his home in Norwich, Connecticut, to report progress and organize a colonx-
of neighbors and relatives for the following spring.

In the meantime, \\^i]liam Fenton, with Mrs. Brvan Rilev, her son

120 RICHARnSOX COLNTV, NEBRASKA.

and daughter and grandson, M. B. Miller, proceeded \\'est, and landed at
Dawson in June, 1867. The missionary labors of Thomas I~enton. backed
Ijy encouraging letters from those on the ground, resulted in a colony of
about twenty families setting out for the West in April, 1868. They were:
The Ryans, Rileys, Fentons, O'Gradys, Murphys, Clancys, Carvers, and
O'Donnells. besides a number of young people who located in (3maha. Those
old neighbors and relatives and the Rothenbergers and Tiehens constituted
what was termed the Irish settlement, or the Dawson Catholic colony.

The radical change from the New England factory villages to the bound-
less plains of Nebraska caused the young people to feel like Robinson Crusoe
on his island, but the elders of the colony recognized a soil and climate
very like their native Ireland, and like the signers of the Declaration of
Independence, they agreed to stand or fall together. The loss most keenl\-
felt by the younger members was the social life so much accustomed to in
the Eastern factory villages, but even in this matter the Yankee spirit
asserted itself, and spelling schools, lyceunis, etc., were started to dispel the
ennui of frontier life. The inventive genius of the Yankee, coupled with
the native wit of the transplanted son of Erin, found a rich field in the early
days of the little colony and a judicious application of these traits surmounted
many an obstacle that would perplex settlers of greater wealth. As an instance
we may cite the case of Commodore O'Grady. After purchasing his first
eighty acres and a little mule team, he had left for working capital just
five dollars and a shot-gun, with which to provide a house and tide his little
family over until a crop was raised. As an old sailor he had weathered
too many rough seas to be discouraged and he went about putting on as bold
a front as a millionaire. He made a deal with a timber owner for some
old trees that leaned into the river, for the shot-gun, and the timber man
at once went chuckling among his neighbors telling how he had beaten the
sailor out of his gun for the trees that never could be gotten out of the river
bed. It suited the sailor to be taken for a lamb, while making similar deals,
Ijut when the river was frozen over the next winter, he appeared on the
ground with a gang of neighbors with whom he had exchanged summer
work The trees were felled on the ice, and to the surprise of the timber
lords, the "old sailor" with his mules rolled the logs out of the river like
so many empty barrels. The logs were next hauled to a saw-mill and ripped
into himber, that made a plain l)ut comfortable house, in which w;is reared
a family of robust boys and girls, and whose tinited industry while minors,
built up an estate that would excite the envy of an English liaron.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

AN EARLY BREAKING TEAM.

The breaking of the prairie sod was a matter that tested the patience
of the primitive farmers, but after the usual experimenting it was accom-
plished, as in the case of getting the logs out of the river, by the doubling
up of the neighboring forces. Here a description of an earl\- breaking team
may be of interest to those who may imagine the early settlers had nothing
to do but sit and watch their land grow into value. Commodore O'Grady's
little mules alone could no more break the tough sod than a span of goats,
and after all the teams in the settlement were paired, there was no match
for the mules but a yoke of oxen, possessed by the Hon. Jerry Fenton, and
as Hugh O'Grady hated oxen and Jerry distrusted mules, there was no
harmony of action between the team or drivers. At this stage William
Fenton, who had found empoyment in the quartermaster's department in
Omaha, invested his first season's wages in a span of cavalry horses at a
governent sale, and hitching them on in the lead of the mules and oxen, the
latter, recognizing true leadership, struck out in a manner to excite the admi-
ration of the joint-stock company.

The year previous to the arrival of the colony from Connecticut, there
were an equal number of congenial spirits who had moved into the settle-
ment from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa; notably, the Drapers, Lib-
bees, Aliens, Biisers, Bennett, E. C. Hill, Sr., George Smith, I. H. Burr,
H. S. Belden, Ben Miles, and S. C. Barlow. While this aggregation of early
settlers earned the jocular title of a community, "half Irish and half Yankee,"
it is to their credit that from the date of their first ac(|uaintance to tiie
present time they were a unit in everything of a progressive nature.

In the autumn (if 1867 the hearts of the settlers were elated at the sight
of an ox-train heading toward the ford of the Xemaha. Their joy was
caused bv the knowledge that the nnmigrant train consisted of Joshua
Dawson and a son, with material for building a saw- and grist-mill on the
Nemaha. The completion of the mill in 1868 attracted a .store, postoffice
and blacksmith shop and from this date on "Dawson Mills'' on the map
has had as prominent a space as towns of greater aspiration. While the
present village that was platted with the advent of the railroad is officially
styled "Noraville." Xora, herself, would not recognize any reference to the
present village than the good, old-fashioned name of Dawson. The mill
and store afforded the early settlers a convenient center to congregate and
discuss all matters pertaining to public welfare and que.'^tions of a hcrtl law.

122 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and voting bonds for a railroad through the county created much differ-
ence of opinion.

The breaking up of the land, the building of houses and stables, hum-
ble in their day, and the planting of groves, orchards, and hedges engaged
the time and attention of the early settlers, but they did not lose sight of
the importance of providing the schools and churches for the education and
religious training of their children. In fact, since the date of the first settle-
ment the writer can testify that there has never been aught but a friendly
rivalry among the citizens in their generous desire to keep the Dawson
schools up to the highest standard of excellence. The character and zeal
of the colonist in this respect were subjected to the severest test at a time
when their financial ability was very limited. The first attempted church
edifice was wrecked by a storm, when only partially completed. A vear
later saw it rebuilt and immediately destroyed by fire. A third time it was
built stronger and better and after serving its usefulness it was destroyed
by an electrical storm and replaced by the present substantial brick structure.
But the aged and many youthful members of the colony have long since
pre-empted claims in the silent city on the hill, while a few surviving mem-
bers, who, as romping boys and girls, served an apprenticeship in New Eng-
land factories, are waiting their turn to be ferried across the river. No
doubt many of them fell short of attaining the goal of their highest aspira-
tions, but they came west in quest of homes and independence, and they
succeeded in leaving their children far better equipped to grapple with the
battles of life than they were on landing in Richardson county.

THE DUNKARD COLONY AT SILVER CREEK.

The settlement of people from Illinois and Somerset county, Pennsyl-
vania, four miles north of Falls City, began in 1868, with the arrival of
Francis .Shaffer, C. Forney, J. Johnson, and Philip Meyers. They were soon
followed by Samuel Kimmel, the Lichtys, Pecks, J. ^Meyers and others.
Elder Samuel Stump, who came with his family from Ohio, was (|uite
an acquisition to the colony. He was considered a fearless expounder of
the old Gospel until he died.

At that time these people paid from seven to ten dollars an acre for
this one-hundred-and-fifty-doUar land, and being before the days of either
railroad, there was much tedious hauling to make the needed improvements.
Wiien the frightful drought and grasshoppers came in 1874 the Silver

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

123

Creek community stood the calamity remarkably well and went right on
gaining new citizens from the East.

Any history of that part of Richardson county would be incomplete
without reference to Rev. John Forney. He was not only a builder of the
community, but served faithfully as a preacher and medical doctor for a
great number of people, for a very small consideration.

The school house was built in 1870. For many years it served for church
services, school and literary societies. Many weighty problems of national
importance have been threshed out on this old school house floor, by the
lyceums that met weekly during the winter months.

Silver Creek Brethren church was built in 1878. The cemetery was
laid out years before and the first burial there was in 1870. Most of the old
settlers of the Silver Creek neighborhood have now removed to the city, while
their descendants are occupying the well-improved homes they built. All are
living and dying as American citizens, except Joseph Meyers and family. They
moved to Jerusalem, Palestine, years ago, where nov*' in the hills of Judea,
Uncle Joe and some of his family lie buried. Mrs. Meyers and the other chil-
dren are still living.

FIRST REGISTER OF SETTLERS' CLAIMS.

The claims of the first settlers, together with the dates they settled on the
lands of the United States, on the Great Xemaha river, were as follow :

John O'Laughlin March 22 1854

John Blew March 21 1854

J.icob B. Newton March 29 1854

Francis N. Purkett March 28 _i854

Samuel Crozier March 28 1854

J. B. Key April 29 1854

H. Cleney May 20 1854

Thomas Newton May 20 1854

Meredith Teed June t6 1854

Decatur Putney June i 1854

S. C. Cieamen March 29 1S54

John S. Lumpkins March 27 1854

Joel Heney June 12 1854

James Matthew February 25 1854

Ambrose Howeston June 12 1854

RICHARDSON COrXTV, NEBRASKA.

Pierson Hoiiser June 17

Jespa Adamson June 17

W. C. Forster June 17

A. C. Forester June 17

Francis A. Mc\'ey June 17

Charles W. ^rc\'ey June 17

Robert H. :\Ic\'ey June 17

James T. Davenport July i

Ann T. Hashbarger July i

Christian Bobst \pril 12

Robert T. Archer \pril 12

Jacob Adams \pril 12

Robert L. Turner \pril 12

George T. Bobst ^__April 12

Harry Abrams June 4

Thomas Dragon \iiril 12

A. J. Dragon \pril 12

Joseph Frice April 11

John R. ^Morris \pril 24

B. Frank Leachnian \pril 24

Daniel Picklris May 15

Henry Shellliorn August 2

John T. Williams Vugust 12

denrge W. Cowlev .-August 12

James T. Runels August 19

Gerhom Shellhorn \ugust 19

John Shellhorn \ugust 19

John Lore August 18

Henry G. Lore \ugust 18

Thomas F. Brown July 3

Washington Cobb July 3

Thomas C. Dunken \ugust 10

Merion Kingston September 15 _.

William W. Soper September 15 __

Samuel S. Soper September 15 __

Redmond \\'arren September 16 _.

Winslow L. Soper September 16 _.

Jerr}- P.lair September iG _.

11. Ilonner September 21 _.

RICIIAUDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I25

F. Homier September Ji 1854

J. Onstott S'eiitember 21 1854

Christian Iseley September 18 18^4

John Luginliill ___^ October 3 1854

Peter Luginl>ill October 3 181^4

Christian Luginbill : October 3 1854

John B. Rothenberger Octi)l;er 2S 1854

Harmon Warden Oclolier 2H 1854

Echnond Shellhorn March 3 1855

J. Russell Octo];er 1 1854

EARLY SL'RN'EYS OF RICHARDSON' COUXTY.

The reser\ation known as the Half-Breed Tract, which was set aside
for half-breeds and mixed bloods of the Omaha. Iowa, Otoe and Yankton,
and Santee bands of Sioux, by a treaty concluded at Prairie du Chien,
Wisconsin on July 15, 1830, was surveyed by John C. McCoy, a son of
a Rev. Isaac McCoy, an early Baptist missionary among the Indians, in
1837-38, the former working under directions of his father.

This work was the first surveying done in this territory and preliminar\-
to the movement of the Indians to the above tract. Under the terms of the
above treaty the reser\-ation was located in the east part of this county
and Nemaha county and was bounded on the east by the Missouri ri\-er.
which also was and has always been the boundary lietween the territories
of later states of Missouri and Nebraska.

The north boundary being the Little Nemaha river, in what is now
Nemaha county; the west by a line known as the "Half-Breed line." which
was drawn, starting at a point west, ten miles from the mouth of the Little
Nehama river and running direct southeasterlv to a point ten miles west from
the mouth of the Great Nemaha in Richanlson county, which latter river
formed the south boundary of said reservation.

It was here that a dispute arose after the first survey had been made,
as there was a difference of opinion as to whether the distance from the
mouth (jf the Great Nemaha river west, should be measured in a direct
line from the mouth of the river ten miles west, or whether the ten miles
should be ascertained Ijy following the meanders of the stream.

This difference of opinion did not become a matter of vital importance
until \ears afterward, when, in 18^^ t'le matter of the location of Archer

126 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

as a county seat became a moot question and the jealousies of other [Mjints
desiring the honor, caused an investigation to be made. It was claimed that
if the line were correctly run, Archer would be inside the reservation and
therefore not eligible as a site for a city, much less a county seat, and
the question also involved the right of white settlers- to lands. The dispute
all hinged on the manner of calculating the distance west from the Great
Nemaha river, the ten miles. The new survey was begun by William H.
Goodwin in December, 1856, and was concluded in October of the follow-
ing year.

The Half-Breed or west boundary line, as established bv the first survey
made by McCoy, struck the Great Nemaha at the north quarter section
corners between sections 16 and 17, in what is now known as Jefferson town-
ship, its north point intersecting the Little Nemaha river in Nemaha county,
at about the center of section 15, just east of the city of Auburn, in what
is now known as Douglas precinct.

The change as made by the later survey of Goodwin, moved the Half-
Breed line to the west and its south point of intersection with the Great
Nemaha river was placed in the southeast corner of the northeast quarter
of section 25, in what is now Falls City township. Archer had been desig-
nated by the governor as county seat of this county and might have remained
so until this day but for the change of this line by the early surveyors.

In the interim between the running of the first and second lines, a
number of settlers had come into the country and settled on land which,
like Archer, was efifected by the change of this selfsame line, and hoping
to hold the same, carried the controversy to the halls of the national Con-
gress at Washington.

The following memorial to Congress, passed by the Territorial Legisla-
ture shortly after the abrogation of the McCoy survey, and the making of
another, asked Congress to relieve the settlers who had been surveyed into
the Half-Breed tract, if within its constitutional power to do so.

PREAMBLE AND JOINT RESOIATION.

For the Relief of Certain Citizens of Riehardsoii County.

Whereas, A portion of the inhabitants of Richardson county in lliis
territory, have in good faith, settled upon, and made all the improvements,
many of which are highly valuable that were required by neighlxirhood,
territorial and the L^nited States laws, to enable them lo acquire title to
the same, bv strict conformitv with law, and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 27

Whereas, Such settlement and improvement was made after the surveys
made by authority of the United States, had determined that their settle-
ment and improvement did not encroach upon, or include any portion of
the public land reserved from sale, or settlement, by reason of any treaty
then known to exist; and,

Whereas, It has since such settlement was made, been ascertained that the
authorized surveys were erroneous, and that the correction of such error, will
include within the boundaries (of the Half-Breed Reservation), a portion
of the lands so settled upon, therefore placing an inseparable barrier to their
acquiring title thereto, by pre-emption or any other known law, and summar-
ily depriving them of their homesteads, taking from them the fruits of their
toil and labor without redress, except the same can be given them by a special
act of Congress, for their relief and believing it to l>e a duty incumbent
upon us, as the representatives of the people, to aid them in obtaining redress
for grievances, which in no wise resulted from any disregard of law on
their part, so far as it may be legitimately within our power, and believing
as we do, that the hardships and losses that must inevitably result to the
inhabitants aforesaid, makes it an imperative duty for our most earnest
effort; therefore, be it

Resolved, By the council and house of representatives of the territory
of Nebraska, that our delegate in Congress is hereby respectfully requested
to present to that honorable body a bill, setting forth the hardships which
must result to a portion of our inhabitants, and to urge the immediate pas-
sage of such bill, for their relief, so far as they may have power to do, and
strict justice to the parties agreed, demand; and be it further

Resolved, That the secretary of the Territory be requested to transmit
a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution forthwith to our delegate
in Congress.

Approved, February the 9th, 1857. Third session.

The mouth of the Great Nemaha in 1838, at the time when the first
survey above referred to, was made, was located in the southeast part of
section 25, township i, north of range 18, and was likewise at the same
point when the later survey was made in 1856, but in more recent years the
Missouri river broke through an old bed of- the Nemaha at a point further
north and about two miles west of the older point indicated first by Lewis
and Clark in notes of their journey up the river in 1804, and the later survey
of 1838.

The new survev of the Nemaha that was ordered in 1856, was made

1^8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

over the same ground, from the same point on the ^lissouri, but by some
process extended the initial point of the west boundary of the Half-Breed
tract, two miles further west than did the McCoy survey and about two
and one half miles to the south of that point. The effect of the change
was to push the entire line further west.

The resolution above was sent to the Nebraska delegate in Congress
at the time, Fenner Ferguson, who bad been in the state at the Lime the
later survey was made and he took the matter up and succeeded in having
a bill passed in June, 1858, which settled the matter by readopting the old
or first survey. This action settled the location of the Half-Breed line, but
did not save Archer. It was claimed that some sixty settlers were on the
land in question. A bill, which was passed in 1859, gave the proceeds of
the land between the two lines, to the half-breeds who had not received
allotments, which amounted to about $400 each, as the land was sold at
one dollar and a quarter per acre, the government price for a half section,
as long as the fund lasted.

FIRST SITRVEYS MADE.

The survey and sectionizing of Richardson county, was of the lands of
Nebraska Territory commenced first, for the reason that the initial p(Mnt
of all the surveys of Nebraska lands is located at the southeast corner
of Nebraska, which, likewise, is the southeast corner of the county. This
work was commenced in 1854, the year of the arrival of the first of the
Richardson county pioneers, who arrived here on April 17th, and the surveyors
began their work in the month of November of that year.

The first party sent out by the government were charged with the
work of running the base line west from the Missouri river for a distance
of one hundred and eight miles. The fortieth parallel of north latitude,
the dividing line between the states of Nebraska and Kansas, was designated
as the base line and required to be marked.

The first party arriving at the point where the survey was t<> be com-
menced, went to great pains with the instruments they had at hand and
their knowledge of the business, to locate the exact line r.f the fortieth
parallel. The first thing to be done was to establish the initial point and
mark the same; this was done bv the erection of a large iron monument.

FIRST LOG SCHOOL HOUSE, GRANT rRECIXCT, ERECTED IX 1S65.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. I29

THE IRON MONUMENT.

A large iron monument was intended to be placed at the exact south-
east corner of the state of Nebraska (which also marks the southeast corner
of Richardson county), but this would have been on the river's edge between
the states of Nebraska and Kansas, and because of the habits of the Missouri
river was not deemed a practical location for a permanent marker, hence
it was placed on the bluff nearly one hundred and fifty feet above and
overlooking the river. It marks a dividing line between the states, and
was placed there under directions made by Surveyor-general John Calhoun,
of the territories of Nebraska and Kansas, at that time located at Wyan-
dotte, near Kansas City, Missouri.

The contract for the erection of the monument had been let to Charles
A. Manners & Company, a firm which had some surveying contracts in the
territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Orders from the surveyor-general,
land office, Washington, D. C, set forth the point at which a monument
should be erected. The matter of officially fixing a spot where the monu-
ment should be placed was given by the land commissioner in the following
language, contained in instructions forwarded to those who were to deter-
mine the corner and erect a monument marking same :

"Your township corner binding on the Missouri river will be the south-
east corner of township or fractional township No. i, north of the base
line of range number i8, and at the intersection of the point on the Missouri
river, a conspicious and enduring monument is to be erected by your deputy.

The first work done in this locality was that of a party in charge of a
surveyor, John P. Johnson, who, with his men, surve3-ed the Kansas and
Nebraska dividing line on the fortieth parallel west for a distance of sixty
miles and they had marked the starting place with a wooden stake sur-
rounded by a pile of stones which they had gathered nearby. The work
done by this party was highly unsatisfactory and had not fulfilled the re-
quirements of the government and Manners & Company had been employed
to go over the work and rectify the mistakes. A party consisting of twenty-
four men in the employ of this company, were sent to St. Joseph, Missouri,
with instructions to get the iron post or monument which had been sent
to that place a year previous and haul it to the point southeast of Ruio
and erect the same on a permanent foundation.
(9)

130 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMEN1

The monument is of iron and was cast in the form of a pyramid, meas-
uring fourteen inches square at the Ijase and eight inches at the top and is
seven feet long. It bears on its sides in raised letters the following words
and figures: On the north side the word, "Nebraska," and on the opposite,
or south side, the word, "Kansas," and on the west, "40'' in latitude,"
and on the east, "1854," which represented the year the monument was
erected. The words Kansas and Nebraska run perpendicular with the post,
while the figures of the date are horizontal.

This party arrived at St. Joseph and after loading the monument in
a wagon, hauled it north to a point on the ^Missouri side of the river opposite
from the point where it was to be erected.

There were no ferries in operation in this vicinity at that time and
they must depend upon other means of conveying it to the western shore.
An Indian was found, who owned a canoe and he agreed to take them o\er.
His boat was small and he could take but eight men on each of the three
trips. On the third trip the monument was loaded in for passage and its
weight, together with that of the liien, really overloaded the light bark.
The Indian, however, was skilled in the use of his oars and while the
top of the boat barely missed the water two inches and although the river
was quite rough, yet he succeeded in landing them all safely on the Nebraska
shore, but not before the men, some of whom could not swim and who were
riding astride of the iron monument, had the scare of tlieir lives, fearing
death in the tur1)id and muddy water.

The monument was hauled up to the summit of the bluff and in due
time placed on a firm foundation, where it remained through all the years
until 1890, when David D. Reavis and Fred W. Miller, both of Falls Cit\-.
who were employed in the work of making a resurvey of some lands on
the Io\\ a Indian Reservation, found it lying upon the ground.

.Vfter the first party had completed the work of setting up the monu-
ment, the\- were compelled to wait for some time pending further instruc-
tions, which were not received until June. 1855. \\'hen these were received
it was learned that the\- were to make corrections on the entire base line
as far as it hatl lieen surveyed, wliich they proceeded to do.

Soon after the completit)n of the work of establishing correctly the
l);ise line, work was commenced on making sur\e\s to" the north in Richard-
son cipuntx'. The accurate sur\e\" and markings jjlaced at section corners

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I3I

greatly facilitated the matter of describing the lands taken by settlers. The
orders for the survey instructed that the land be surveyed in divisions or
blocks, six miles square, to be designated a township, and the townships
were divided into blocks one mile square and known as sections, containing
six hundred and forty acres. The townships were numbered beginning at
the northeast corner with number one; on running west six miles the last
section on the west side was numbered six; the one immediately south being
numbered seven, and thence eastward to number twelve, the one immediately
below being thirteen; this sytem of numbering being continued as before
described until number thirty-six was reached in the southeast corner of
each township. The rows of townships from east to west are known as
ranges. The townships run consecutively from a meridian and a base line,
which were first run with great accuracy, at right angles to each other,
forming a cross, the north and south line being a meridian, the east and
west a base line. All lands east of the meridian line are described as range
east; all lands west of the meridian are described as range west. All
lands north of the base line are described as township north ; all lands
south of the base line are described as township south.

From the intersection of the meridian and base line begins a survey.
and also the numbering of the various townships and ranges. I'^ach six
miles square is called a "congressional township," and are numbered from
one up, thus, township number i, 2, 3, etc., south of the base line, and i, 2,
3, etc., north of the base line, and range i, 2, 3, etc., east of the meridian,
and range i, 2, 3. etc., west of the meridian. Each township, or six miles
square, has, therefore, two numbers on its face — a range number and a
township number. Each of these townships is subdivided into thirty-six
scjuares, called sections, and are, as nearly as ma\- he. each one nn'le square.

These sections contain six hundred and fortx* acres of land, except the
north and west sides of the township, which are al\va\s fractional, owing to
the fact that it is impracticable to make a township precisely six miles
square. The surveying of a township always began at the southwest conier
of section thirty-six.

The state line between Kansas and Nebraska is the Ixise line for all
the surveys in these two states; hence the entire state of Nebraska is town-
ship north, while the entire state of Kansas is townshi]> south. The meridian
line for these two states is called the sixth principal meridian, and runs
north from Oklahoma, passing a little east of Wellington, Sumner countv.
and a little west of ^\'ichita, Sedgwick county, and on north through the

13^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

state of Nebraska, to a point on the Missouri river opposite Yankton, South
Dakota.

Each section in a township is divided into four equal parts, called
quarter sections, the lines running north and south and east and west
through the center of the section are called the one-half section line, and
at their intersection, in the center of the section by a long-established custom
the section number is placed. Each quarter section contains one hundred and
sixty acres, except the following sections on the north and west sides of
the township, viz: i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, 30, 31. The fractional lots
of either more than or less than forty acres are usually numbered from
I to 4. \'ery frequently they are not numbered at all, and never when
the lot is a full forty-acre tract.

The work of the early surveyors, under the efficient service of Charles
A. Manners, in establishing and correcting the base line, was completed
for a distance of one hundred and eight miles by June, 1856. The work
of carrying the line on west to the summit of the Rocky mountains was
done later, being completed in 1859. In this work were employed at differ-
ent times, Charles A. Manners, N. P. Cook, Jared Todd and William Withe-
row, the latter being a resident of this county. Rulo township, located
in the southeast corner of the county, was the first surveyed, the lines being
run by Meriwetiier Thompson, in the month of September, 1855. the work of
subdividing the township being done by Michael McManus, a resident of St.
Stephens in this county, in June of the following year.

The work of surveying the county was completed, or practicallv so,
by 1858, and Maj. ^^'. H. Keeling, still a resident of the city, was among
those employed in the work.

CHAPTER V.
Organization of Richardson County.

Our county takes its name from that of William A. Richardson, who,
holding a commission from President Buchanan as territorial governor,
arrived in the state on January ii, 1858. Richardson had been a member
of Congress from his home state, Illinois, and with Stephen A. Douglas was
largely identified with the struggles incident to the passage of the Kansas-
Xebraska bill in 1854.

Governor Richardson was appointed to succeed Governor Izard and
arrived at Omaha early in January, 1858, assuming his duties on January
12th. Upon his arrival here he found the Territorial Legislature torn by
factional strife, engendered over a desire among some of the members who
represented a constituency desiring the removal of the capitol from Omaha
to some other place. Immediately upon his arrival he waS confronted with
a joint resolution presented to him by a committee from some seceding mem-
bers who had met at Florence, a suburb of Omaha.

In the resolution it was pointed out that they had been forced to
"Adjourn to the nearest place of safety, by the disorganizing and turbulent
acts of a minority of their own body, aided by the violence of an unre-
strained mob at Omaha, causing well-grounded apprehension as to the per-
sonal safety of the majority and re(iuesting His Excellency to communicate
with the Legislature at this place at his earliest convenience."

The record shows that the new governor was not seriously impressed
with the cause of the "seceders'" and failed to officially recognize them as the
"Legislature." He, however, importuned them to return to the capitol and
guaranteed their personal safety, but the closing date for the session being
near at hand, his friendly overtures were not accepted.

Later, a proclamation was issued by Governor Richardson on August
14, 1858, calling a special session of the Legislature and that body assembled
at Omaha on September 21st of that year.

Governor Richardson held his office only until December 5. 1858, when
he resigned and at once returned to his home state, Illinois, to assist his
friend. Stephen A. Douglas, in his contest against Al>raham Lincoln for the

134 • RICHAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

United States senatorship. It came to the knowledge of Richardson that
the national administration was opposed to Douglas and this attitude on
tlie part of tlie government displeased the governor, who cared no longer to
hold an appointive position under it.

Richardson county is the southeast corner county of the state
of Nebraska. It was one of the original eight counties organized in the
territorv. It is now bovmded on the north by Nemaha county, on the west
by Pawnee county, on the south by the line dividing the states of Nebraska
and Kansas, and on the east by the Missouri river. Being one of the first
counties organized in the state it has always been known and numbered as
first in the districts, being from its earliest days the first representative dis-
trict in the Legislature, and first state senatorial district and so numbered in
tlie larger judicial and still larger congressional district.

ORGANIZATION.

As a county it was so ordered by proclamation made by Acting Go\er-
nor Cuming in 1854. which made its organization but temix3rary. The year
following, in 1853, it was reorganized by act of the Territorial Legislature.

FIRST ELECTION.

The first election was held in the county as then (in 1855) bounded,
including part of Nemaha. Johnson, Pawnee and what is still included as
Richardson. At this election but ten votes were cast. But two voting places
were named in the governor's proclamation, at Level's cabin, north of pres-
ent site of Falls City in the woods, and Christian Bobst's cabin, near Cincin-
nati, in what is now Pawnee county. At this election the first re])resenta-
tives to tlie first Territorial Legislature tn he held at Omaha City were
chosen. I. L. Sharp for the council, or upper branch of that body, was
not a resident of the county, Ijut claimed as his home, Glenwood. Iowa, and
Jolm .^. Singleton, wiiose family had not yet crossed to this side of the
ri\er, was honored with election to the House.

KIKST COUNTY Ol- I-IC1:kS CHOSEN.

At the election the following were chosen as officers of the county :
County judge. John C. Miller; county clerk. ¥. L. Goldsberry: county treas-
urer. Louis Mesplais. At this election Salem. Archer and Speiscr were
nruned as the polling places.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. I35

INCORPORATION OF TOWN OF FALLS CITY.

From the Richardson county records appears the following report of a
meeting of the county commissioners held at Salem, Nebraska, on May 17,
1858:

Saiciii. Ricliardsoii County, ycbraska.

Special Term of County Court. May 17th, 1858.

At a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Rich-
ardson county, Nebraska, Territory, began and hdd at their usual place of
holding court in the town of Salem on Monday the 17th day of May, 1858.
Present, Joseph Yount and Arnett Roberts, commissioners.

Now comes into open court, John A. Burbank, Isaac L. Hamby, J.
Edward Burbank and others of the Town of Falls City in said county and
file their petition to be incorporated under the name and style of the Town
of Falls City, which petition reads in the following words :

Richardson County. Territory of Nebraska, ss.

To the Hon., the County Commissioners of the county of Richardson:

We, the undersigned petitioners, citizens of the aforesaid county in the
Town of Falls City, would represent to your honorable body, the utility and
public benefit of the incorporation of said town of Falls City, as located on
the southeast quarter of section ten (10) and the northeast quarter of sec-
tion fifteen (15) in township one (i) north of range No. sixteen (16)
east, for which we ])ray for polity established for local government of the
undersigned, for which we, your petitioners, will ever pray.

And further pra> that John A. Burl^ank, Isaac L. Hamby and J.
Edward Burbank. William W. Buchanan and Alexander Rickard he ap-
pointed as officers for said incorporation.

(Signed) J. E. Burbank, Isaac L. Hamby, John A. Burbank, Alex-
ander Rickard, William W. Buchanan and others.

It is therefore ordered and declared liy the l)oard that all the territory
within the geographical limits of Falls City, together with all the addititon
that may hereafter be made thereto according to law. be and the same is
hereby declared to be a town by the name and style of Falls City. That said
town is made a body corporate and politic and is \ested with all the powers
and attributes of a municipal corporation, under and by virtue of an act of
the Territory of Nebraska approved. January 23. 1856.

And it is further ordered bv the board tliat John A. Burbank. Isaac L.

136 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Hamb\-, J. Edward Burbank, Alexander Rickard and William W. Buchanan
be and are hereliv appointed as trustees for said town and they shall hold
their offices until their successors are elected and qualified.
By order of the commissioneers,

James R. Trammell, Clerk County Court.

By Charles McDonald, Deputy.

ORIGINAL BOUNDARY OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.

Richardson was one of the eight original counties created by the first
Territorial Legislature, which convened at Omaha on January 16, 1855, in
pursuance of a proclamation issued by Acting Governor T. B. Cuming,
designating that city as a meeting place. It is located in the southeast corner
of the state, the line dividing the states of Kansas and Nebraska, or the
fortieth parallel, being its south boundary. Its boundary was defined as
follows :

"Began at the northwest corner of the half-breed tract; thence west-
wardly along the south bank of the Little Nemaha river; thence westerly to
a point sixty miles west of the Missouri ; thence south to the fortieth parallel,
the boundary of the territory; thence east along said boundary to the Mis-
souri river, thence north along the Missouri and west ten miles to the south-
east corner of the half-breed tract; thence northerly along the boundary of
said tract to the place of beginning."

THE HALF-BREED TRACT. ■ '

The necessity for the provision of some place to which the half-breeds,
who were largely the progeny of French adventurers, trappers and traders,
could be assigned, was plainly evident early in the last century. It required
but little logic to show that the lawful son of a Frenchman could not be sub-
ject to the laws governing Indians of full blood, or forcibly amalgamated
with a tribe, nor could the half-Indain assume the full rights of his father.
The half-breeds were a new element in Uncle Sam's cosmopolitan brood, and
special measures were necessary to meet their case. Having decided on a
modified form of reservation for this large class, it remained for the gov-
ernment to select a fitting location for such a grant. It must be remembered
that, at this time, all beyond the Missouri was "the wilderness". When,
then, in 1839, the chiefs of the various tribes and the representatives of the
government met at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, there was a vast amount

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I37

of land which answered all the requirements of a good reserve, being watered
and wooded, and abounding in game.

The treaty setting aside the lands for the half-breeds in Richardson
and Xemaha counties was made between William Clark, superintendent of
Indian afifairs, and Willoughby Morgan, a colonel of the regular army, with
deputies from the Sacs and Foxes, four bands of Siouxs, the Medawah-
Kantons, Sissetongs, W^ahpetons and Wahpacootah, the Omahas, Otoes and
Missouris, on July 15, 1830. The provisions of the treaty read:

The Omahas, lowas and Otoes. for themselves and in behalf of the
Yankton and Santee bands of Sioux, having earnestly requested that they
might be permitted to make some provision for their half-breeds, and par-
ticularly that they might bestow upon the tract of country within the fol-
lowing limits, to-wit :

Beginning at the mouth of the Little Xe-mohaw river and running up
the main channel of said river to a point ten miles from its mouth in a
direct line; from thence in a direct line to strike the Great Ne-mohaw ten
miles above its mouth, in a direct line (the distance between the two Ne-
mohaws being about twenty miles); thence down said river to its mouth;
thence up with the meanders of the Missouri river to the point of begin-
ning. * * * The President of the United States may hereafter assign
to any of the said half-breeds * * =i= any portion of said tract not
exceeding a section of si.x hundred and forty acres to each individual.

This territory was surveyed in 1857, ^^^ the domain of the half-
breeds thus officially designated, but, before the line was fairly run, it was
condemned as being incorrect, and a new survey ordered. The new line
started at a point some distance farther up the Great Nemaha river, but
preserved the original point on the Little Nemaha. The additional terri-
tory thus given the Indians was of little value, but the new line passing
through the county seat, Archer, forever destroyed that thriving village.
The existence of a county seat on an Indian reserve was an anomaly, and
it was at once removed. Archer had been designated as the county seat in
March, 1855.

FIRST CENSUS AND POLLING PLACES.

The lirst formal census of Nebraska Territory was ordered taken in
1855, for the purpose of making a readjustment of the legislative repre-
sentation. Reports from Richardson county showed a total of two hun-
dred and ninety-nine persons on the enumeration rolls. The census was
taken by deputy marshals Joseph L. Sharp, Charles P.. Smith, ]\Iichael

138 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

I\Iiirphy, E. R. Do\le, !•". W. Synimes, Munsen S. Clark and Charles W.
Pierce. They were empowered to designate suitable places for voting pre-
cincts and also name the judges and clerks of election. The work incident
to the enumeration was commenced on October 24th, 1854, and to be com-
pleted by November _'oth. The voting precincts designated in Richardson
county were two in numlier : One at the house of William Level, with
John Purket, Robert T. Archer, and James M. Roberts as judges ; William
\'. Soper and John A. Singleton, clerks. The second precinct was at the
house of Christian P.obst. with Henry Shellhorn. Henry Abrams, and V/ill-
iam J. Burns, judges; Christian Bobst and W. L. Soper. clerks." The
house of William Level referred to was located north of the present site
of Falls City, while that of Christian Bobst was near the present town of
DuBois in Pawnee county, then a part of Richardson county.

Following the enumeration, notices of an election were distributed among
the people stating that the same would be held for the purix)se of choosing
a delegate to Congress and a territorial Legislature to convene during the
following winter. The election was held on December 12 and Richardson
county cast forty-se\en votes.

The proclamation ordering the census was as follows:

rroclainatioii by the Acting Governor.
Executive Deportment. Xebraska Tern'forx.

October 21, 1854.

An enumeration of the inhabitants of the territory will commence on
Tuesday next, October 24. 1854. under the officers instructed to complete
the same, if possible, within four weeks. Immediately after said census,
notices will be distributed for the election of a delegate to Congress, and a
territorial Legislature, to convene this winter. Said enumeration in the
districts bordering on the Missouri river, will commence one week from the
above date, viz., on Tuesday, October 31st. and simultaneously on that day
in each of said districts. The purpose of this notice is to enable persons
who have removed temporarily from the territory to return in time for
said census, but in no case wall names be enrolled except of actual and
permanent residents of the territory.

Given under my hand at Omaha Citw Xebraska Territory on the 21st
day of October. 1854.

T. B. Cuming.

Acting Governor of Xebraska.

RICUARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 139

LEC.ISLATUI-: REPRESENTATION.

Based on a populatidii of two tliousand seven hundred and thirty-two
found by the first census in the Territory of Nebraska, ordered b\- Acting
Governor Cuming, Richardson county was given the following representation
in the first Legislature : One councilman, two representatives.

That session of the Legislature met at Omaha on January 16, 1855,
and was a day fraught with intense excitement owing to the disappointment
of men throughout the territory o\er the fact that the territorial capitol had
not been located in their part of the territory and many had vowed that no
session of the Legislature should be held. The day passed off, however,
without serious friction.

In that session, J. L. Sharp had the honor of representing Richardson
county in the upper branch, or council, as president. In the House the
honor fell to D. M. Johnson and J. A. Singleton. There were thirteen coun-
ciimen and thirty-six representatives, a total of forty-nine members.

EIK.ST VALUATION OF PROPERTY.

From a report of the auditor made in 1855. we learn that the valuation
returned on both real and personal property in Richardson county totaled
the sum of twenty-six thousand six hundred and forty-three dollars.

REPRESENTATION IN TERRITOKIAE LEGISLATURES.

First session — Councilman, J. L. Sharp, president. House, D. M. John-
son, J. A. Singleton. (January 16, 1855.)

Second session — Councilman (no change.) House, A. D. Kirk. Rich-
ardson, W. H. Hoover. Richard.son and Xemaha, jointl)'. (December 18,

Third session — Richardson and Pawnee counties, Charles McDonald.
(January 5, 1857.) House, .\. V. Cromwell, X. J. Sharp.

lM)urth session — (."ouncilman. no change from preceding sessioiL House.
A. v. Cromwell. \\'ingate King, i-lichardson and Pawnee counties. Decem-
ber 8. 1857.

Fifth session— (.'ouncilman, Charles McDonald, I'iichardson and Pawnee:
seat contested by F.. S. Dundy. (Extra .session September _m, 1858.)
House, Richardson and Pawnee, William C. h'leming, A. C. Dean. At this
ses-^ion Governor Richardson, for whom tin's county was named, was then

140 RICHAUDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

chief executive and in his message he called attention to the fact that the
previous Legislature had repealed the criminal code, and the sole method of
procedure then in vogue, was the common law of England, under the pro-
visions of which perjury, forgery and other crimes less than capital, were
punishable Ijy death.

Sixth session — Decemlier 5, 1859 (no change in council). House,
Richardson. Houston Nuckolls, J. E. Burbank and Nathan Meyers.

Seventh session — December 3, i860. Council, Richardson and Pawnee,
E. S. Dundy. House, F. A. Tisdel, A. M. Acton, H. B. Porter.

Eighth session — (No change in council). House. Richardson, L. Allga-
wahr, J. S. Ewing, H. B. Porter.

Ninth session— January 7, 1864. House, Richardson, Lewis Allga-
wahr, J. C. Lincoln, M. ^^^ Breman.

Tenth session — January 5, 1865. Council divided into districts and
Richardson county, nth and represented by J. N. McCasland. House,
Richardson, Oliver \\'. Dunning. F. A. Tisdel, Charles F. ^,^^1lther, E. H.
Johnson.

I^leventh session — January 4, 1866. (Omaha) J. N. McCasland, coun-
cil. House, Richardson, Lorenzo Crounse (later governor), William Parchen,
J. D. Ramsey, John Jay Hart. At this session Hon. E. S. Towle. of this
city, was chosen as assistant clerk of the house.

VOTE ON ADOPTION OF STATE CON.STITUTION.

At an election held in the territory on June _', 1866, upon the adoption
of the constitution, Richardson county voted as follows: For, 503; against,

37 ^■

LTnder the terms of that constitution, provisiun was made for the meet-
ing of the Legislature on Jul\- 4. 1866. M this meeting Richardson cmmty
was represented as follows: House, William I'archen, B. F. Cunningham.
J. M. Deweese, J. T. Hoile.

Twelfth session — January 10, 1867. House, Richardson, G. Duerfeldt.
J. M. Deweese and Joseph T. Hoile.

ORGANIZATION OF PRECINCTS.

Board of county commissioners meeting at Salem on July 6, 1857:
The county commissioners of Richardson county had divided said county

into three precincts and to include, respectively, the following described terri-

torv. to-wit :

RICHARDSON' COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I4I

No. I — Archer precinct contains townships Nos. i, 2 and 3 of ranges
Nos. 16, 17 and 18, in said county.

No. 2 — Salem precinct contains townships Nos. i, 2 and 3 of range No.
15 and the east half of townships No. i, 2 and 3 of range 14, in said county.

No. 3 — Speiser precinct contains the west half of townships Nos. i, 2
and 3 of range No. 14 and townships Nos. i, 2 and 3 of range No. 13 in said
county.

By order of the board of count\- commissioners of said county. F. L.
Goldsbury, county clerk.

The county commissioners met according to law and ordered that there
be three notices for each precinct naming the various officers to be balloted
for at the August election in 1857 in Richardson county, Nebraska Territory.

Ordered that Alexander Rickard, Wingate King and William Goolsby
be and the same are hereby appointed judges of election, at Archer precinct
and Joseph Hare. John W. Brinegar and John Ogden be and the same are
hereby appointed Judges of election at Salem precinct, and John Luginbill,
Henry Abrams and James Cameron be and the same are hereby appointed
judges of election at Speiser precinct. Ordered that notices be given to each
of said judges at least ten days prexious to said election. Court adjourned
until July 6, 1857.

F. L. Goldsbury, County Clerk.

The county commissioners met at Salem, July 6, 1857, according to law,
Joseph Yount being absent, the following business being transacted : The
account of R. W. Furnas was presented for striking two hundred assessors'
blanks for the sheriff of Richardson county — but was not accepted. The
account of W". H. Mann was next presented for services rendered in record-
ing the plat of the road from Archer in Richardson county to Brownville in
Nemaha county. Allowed for said services — $5.00. An account of said
Mann ffir services rendered in writing election notices for Richardson county
was allowed by said commissioners — $6.00.

TAXES COl.I.F.CTEP, 1857.

Samuel Keiffer on behalf of Isaac Crook, county treasurer, presented a
statement of the amount of taxes collected by him for the year 1857, which
was as follows :

Whole amount of county tax $291.91

Whole amount of territorial tax 179-94

Whole amount of school tax 59-98

14^ RICHARDSON COLXTY, NEBRASKA.

The sum of two hundred ninety-nine dollars and ninety-one cents of
county tax was paid over to the court and an order issued to Samuel Keififer
for the sum of fifteen dollars for commission as collector on the part of the
county, the territorial and school tax remaining in his hands.

William Tramwell presented and was allowed by the commissioners
at Salem on January 4, 1857, the sum of seventeen dollars for making tax
list of Richardson ciiunty.

TAX LEVY, 1857.

5 mills on the dollar levied for county.
3 mills on the dollar lex'ied for territory.
I mill for school.
Poll ta.x of 50 cents.

Samuel Keiffer was county assessor of the county in the year 1858 and
was paid for that service the sum of twenty-seven dollars and seventy-tive
cents. The assessment rolls contained three hundred and seventy names.

At a meeting of the county commissioners held at Salem, Nebraska
Territory, on January 4, 1858, a petition was presented by F. L. Goldsbur\-
for a precinct to he called Rulo, with the folldwing result:

TOWX OF RUI.O.

At a meeting df commissioners held at Salem. Xebraska Territory, in
April. 1858. A. D. Kirk presented a petition signed by M. H. W'oodhn and
twenty-seven other citizens of the town of Rulo, praying for a municipal
corporation for said town of Rulo. with the following result:

The court being satisfied that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of
said town have signed said petition praying for such corporation it is there-
fore ordered that the inhabitants within the following boundaries as set forth
in said ])etition to-wit : Beginning at a point on the Missouri river, where
the line dividing sections 8 and 17 strike the same, thence west along said
line to the northwest corner of section t8; thence south to the southwest
corner of section 18; thence east to the Missouri river; thence up said river
to the ])lace of beginning, be and they are hereby declared incorporated as
a body corpcjrate and politic b\- the name and style of the town of Rulo.
Charles Martin, l-:ii Redard. Tames D. Ramsev. .\. D. Kirk and P. B. McCoy

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I43

are herein' appointed trustees for said town vmtil their successors are elected
and qualified.

Eli Bedard, A. D. Kirk and P. B. McCoy were at once appointed judges
of the election, for offices of the said municipal corporation, to be held on
the first :\Ionday of May, 1858.

ORIGINAL BOUNnARIES.

Richardson county was bounded as follows : Commencing at the north-
west corner of the half-breed tract, thence westwardly along the south bank
of the Little Nemaha River, thence westwardly to a point sixty miles west
of the Missouri river, thence south to the fortieth parallel (the boundary
between Kansas and Nebraska ), thence east along said territory boundary to
the Missouri river, thence north along the Missouri river, and west ten miles
to the southwest corner of the half-breed tract, and thence northerly along
the boundary of said tract to the place of beginning.

Precincts. — There shall be two precincts or places of voting in said Rich-
ardson county, viz., one to be held at the house of William Level (a cabin in
the woods, northeast of present site of Falls City), in precinct No. i. The
second at the house of Christian Bobst, precinct No. 2. John Purket, Robert
T. Archer, and James \Y. Roberts shall be the judges of election of the first
precinct, and William \W. Soper and John A. Singleton, clerks of the same;
and Henry Shellhorn, Henry Abranis and William F. Bums, judges of elec-
tion of precinct No. 2, and Christian Bobst and \^^ L. Soper, clerks of the
same.

RICH-\RDSON COUNTY REDUCED IN SIZE.

Pawnee county, which now joins Richardson county on the west, was
made uji from territory contained in the original boundaries of Richardson
county — the latter being originally, sixty miles long east and west from the
Missouri river. The new county, later to be known as I'awnee, was laid off
in 1855 ''ito townships, and sectionized in 1856. At first it contained but
four townshi]xs, or twenty-four miles square. One row of townships was
taken from off the north side later and added to what is now 4<nown as John-
son county.

Christian Bobst, residing southeast of the present site of Pawnee city,
arrived there on the 4th of April. 1854, in company with Robert Turner,
Jacob .\dams and Robert Arclier ( the latter being the man for whom Archer
\illage in this countx" was named). Christian Bdbst. the leader of the party.

144 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

selected the best timber claim probably in southern Nebraska, the northwest
quarter, section 25. township i, range 12, South Fork precinct. Mr. Bobst
erected what was the first dwelling house in that part of Richardson county.
He was appointed probate judge by Governor Izard, in the fall of 1854, for
Richardson county. No lines at that time having been regularly established,
his jurisdiction extended over all the settlements west of the Missouri river.
Joseph Frey, who came the same summer, was appointed justice of the
peace, and Robert Turner, constable, by the same authority. For the first
few years after the territorial government was formed. Pawnee was attached
to Richardson county and for the most part during that period the offices
were lield by men living in tlie eastern part of what is now Richardson county,
wiiich state of affairs was not the most pleasing to the settlement to the
west and had much to do with the early effort to form the new county of
Pawnee. For a considerable time the whole of the country to the west had
to get their mail at the residence of Judge Christian Bobst on South Fork.
An office was established at Pawnee city long before there was any estab-
lished route to supply it, and had to depend on private enterprise for its sup-
ply from Pleasant valley — Bobst's office.

An election was held on the 25th day of August, 1856, for the purpose
of selecting a seat of justice for the new county. Three points were entered
in the contest. Pawnee city. Table Rock and Turkey creek. By some means
the poll books of the election held at Table Rock were not signed by the
officers of the election board, but when the returns were , carried down to
Archer, the then county seat of Richardson county, the county clerk, Neal
J. Sharp, after canvassing the returns, declared the Pawnee city site duly
elected as the seat of justice (county seat) for Pawnee county. This point
was then called "Enon" (Bibical reference.)

Notwithstanding the certificate had been issued by Mr. Sharp in favor
of Pawnee city, the Hon. Judge John C. Miller, probate judge of Richard-
son county, when the matter was brought properly before him, declared such
certificate null and \oid ; that no choice had been legally made, and therefore
ordered that a new election be held on the 4th day of November, 1856. At
this latter election Pawnee city, the present county seat, was chosen. All
accounts agree that the first white men who were ever on what is now the
present site of Pawnee city, formerly a part of Richardson county, were
James O'Loughlan, Charles McDonald and Arthur McDonald. These men
had settled at Salem in this county and visitetl the site on July 20. 1854.
Looking o\er the ground fnim a jxiint of vantage, they espied a large body

JIAS-SAr-<n'IT. CHIEF OF SAC AND FOX INDIANAS AT XFMAIIA FALLS. 1850-7-8

^w_.

JL,

?■ ■ 11

..:.i.=^

■ .-

' j^jp'.^K.J'iW

^^^^

iifi

iT^

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g'^g-.

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FALLS OF THE GREAT NEMAHA, NEAR FALLS CITY.

RICHARDSON COL'NTY, NEBRASKA. I45

of Indians with ponies grazing. They did not make themsehes known, but
withdrew to tlieir homes on South Fork. This was doubtless the first time
white men had ever stood on this ground.

MARKING BOUNDARY ROAD.

From minutes of Ijoard of count}- commissioners. Falls City. August
29, i860.

Falls City, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory.

Commissioners Court, August 29, i860.
Richardson County,
Nebraska Territory, ss:

Having been appointed and commissioned to view and locate a county
road by the county commissioners court of Richardson county, Nebraska
Territory in July, i860,' I proceeded on the 7th day of August, i860, witli
Joseph Broady, surveyor, and F. Bnxady and John Furrow, chain carriers,
and were all sworn as the law directs by .\. D. S. Ayers, a justice of the
peace in and for Richardson county, Nebraska Territory. We then pro-
ceeded with the aforesaid surveyor and chain carriers and J. G. Babcock, for
i^agman. and J. S. Babcock and E. P. Tinker with four yoke of oxen and
plow to mark the road. J. S. Babcock furnished two yoke of oxen and E.
P. Tinker furnished two yoke of oxen.

We then went to the line between sections thirty (30) and thirty-one
(31), town three ( 3 ) , range thirteen (13), in Richardson county, Nebraska
Territory.

Commencing at the west line of said county we proceeded on route
descriljed in said petition to the Nemaha county line, observing all the points
mentioned in petition. The surveyor will make a report of said road. I
find it a good and practicable route. I therefore report favorable to said
road and recommend your honorable body to establish the same.

Oliver J. Tinker. Commissioner.

In the bill of expense for the use of the oxen appears the following
claims :

J. S. Babcock and 2 yoke of oxen $8.00

E. P. Tinker and 2 yoke of oxen 8.00

A. J. Deshazo, County Clerk.
(10)

146 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ORGANIZATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS.

Clerks Office, Falls City, Nebraska Territory, January 6, 1862.

Commissioners court. Commissioners met pursuant to adjournment.
Present — C. S. Cornell, George W. Scott and Levi Forbe, commissioners,
and George \^andeventer, county clerk.

Ordered that the election precincts of Richardson county be described
and bounded as follows, to-\vit :

l-Vanklin precinct consists of congressional township. No. 3, north, range

13, east.

Porter precinct consists of township 3, north of range 14, east.

Humboldt precinct to be bounded as follows : Commencing at the
northwest corner of congressional township No. 2, on the dividing line
lietween Pawnee and I^ichardson counties, thence south five miles to the south-
west corner of section 30, township 2, range 13, east; thence east along the
section line nine miles to the southeast corner of section 28, in township 2,
north of range 14, east; thence north along the section line five miles, to the
township line, between townships 2 and 3 north of range 14, east; thence
west along the township line nine miles to the place of beginning.

Speiser precinct to he bounded as follows : Commencing at the north-
west corner of section 31, township 2, range 13, east on the dividing line
between Pawnee and Richardson counties, thence south along the county line
to the line between Kansas and Nebraska; thence east along said line, nine
miles, to the section line between sections 33 and 34 of township i, range 14,
east; thence north along the section line to the northeast corner of section
T,!,. township 2, north range 14, east; thence west along section line nine miles,
to the place of beginning.

Salem precinct bounded as follows ; Commencing at the northwest
corner of section 3, township 2, north of range 14, east; thence running
south, along the section line, dividing townships one and two, north range

14, east to the line between Kansas and Nebraska; thence east along said
line to the range line; ijetween ranges 15 and 16, east; thence north along
said range line nine miles, to the northeast corner of section 24, in township
2, north, range 15 east; thence west along the section line to the range line
between ranges 14 and 15; thence north along the range line three miles,
to the township line between townships 2 and 3, nurth; thence west along the
township line to the place of beginning.

Commissioners Court, Special Term, May 14. i860.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I47

Muddy precinct. A petition praying ior a voting precinct to be formed
out of Fails City and Salem precincts. The petition was granted. Said pre-
cinct to be called Muddy precinct and Ixjunded as follows beginning at the
southeast corner of section 13, township 2, north of range 16, east; thence
west on said line to the Franklin precinct; thence north to the county line;
thence east to the range line between ranges 16 and 17, east. William J.
McCord was appointed justice of the peace for Muddy precinct. O. M.
Johnson and E. S. Slagle were appointed constables for Muddy precinct.

Humboldt precinct. A petition was presented on April i, 1861, signed
by A. J. Halbert, Merrit Wells, James Cameron and twenty-two others, pray-
ing that a new precinct be organized in township 2, range T3, bounded as fol-
-lows : Commencing one mile north of the southwest corner of township 2,
range 13, at the Pawnee county line and running east nine miles to the center
or range 14; thence north along the section line to the north line of said
township, five miles; thence west along the township line, nine miles to the
Pawnee county line ; thence south five miles along the county line to the place
of beginning, all of which was granted by the board.

Falls City precinct bounded as follows : Commencing at the northwest
corner of section 19, township 2, range 16, east on the range line between
ranges 15 and 16; thence south on said range line, nine miles to the line
between Kansas and Nebraska; thence east on said line, nine miles to the
section line between sections 33 and 34 in township i, north of range 17;
thence north along the section line eight miles to the northeast corner of
section 28, township 2, range 17; thence west along the section line, three
miles to the range line between ranges 16 and 17; thence north one mile
along the range line to the section line dividing sections 13 and 24, township
2, north range t6, east; thence west along said section line six miles to the
place of beginning.

Muddy precinct bounded as follows : Commencing at the place where
the range line between ranges 14 and 15, east, intersects the county line
between Nemaha and Kichardson counties; thence south along said range
line, nine miles to the section line, between sections 18 and 19 in township
2, north of range 15, east; thence east along said section line, twelve miles
to the range line between ranges 16 and 17, east; thence north along said
range line, nine miles to the county line between NemaJia and Richard.son
counties; thence west along said county line, twelve miles, to the place of
beginning.

St. Stephens precinct bounded as follows: Commencing at a place
where the range line between ranges 16 and 17 intersects the county line,

148 RICHAkDSOX COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

between Xemaha and Richardson counties, thence south along said range
Hne, seven miles to the section line between sections 6 and 7 of township
2, north of range 17; thence east along said section line, to the Missouri
river ; thence up the Missouri river, to the line between Nemaha and Rich-
ardson counties: thence west along said county line to the place of beginning.

Arago precinct bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest
ct)rner of section, township 2, range 17, east, on the range line between ranges
16 and 17: thence south along range line, three miles to the section line
lyClween sections 19 and 20, township 2, north of range 17, east; thence east
along said section line to the Missouri river, thence up the Missouri river to
the section line dividing sections i and 2 of township 2, north of range 17,
east : thence west along the section line to the place of beginning.

Rulo precinct bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest cor-
ner of section zy on the section line between sections 28 and 27 of township
2, range 17, east; thence south along said section line, eight miles to the line
between Kansas and Nerbaska : thence east along said line to the Missouri
river: then.ce up the Missouri river to the section line between sections 19 and
30 of township 2, range 18: thence west along said section line to the place
of beginning.

Action of the board of commissioners at a meeting held On October
6, 1862, in response to a petition signed by citizens of Arago and St. Stephens
])recincts, merged the two precincts into one to be known as Arago.

Ohio. — S. J; Harris had the honor of naming Ohio township. It was
he who petitioned to have the township organized to its present boundary
and named it tor his native state, Ohio.

ACT.S OF TERRIIORIAI. I.KGISLATURE, 1857-58.

An act passed and approved on February lo, 1857, authorized Charles
McDonald to erect a mill dam across the north fork of the Grand Nemaha
river, on the northwest quarter of section 22, township 2, north of range No.
14, east of the sixth p. m., Richardson county, Nebraska Territory.

.\n act passed ant! aj^proved at the same session, February 10, 1857, pro-
\idcd for the incorporation of the town of Salem, Richardson county,
Xeliraska Territory. Section I\' of this act provided that "Whenever eight
of the resident householders of said town shall petition the county clerk of
said Richardson county, asking for the organization of said municipal gov-
ernment the said clerk shall fix the time for tlie municipal election, which

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I49

shall not be more than twenty daj's after the petition is presented to him, and
shall appoint three judges of said election, and shall give notice thereof by
posting up notices in three public places in said town * * *."

Section V. At the aforesaid election the legal voters shall elect a town
council consisting of five, who shall possess the qualifications of electors:
Provided, That (the) person receiving the highest number of votes shall be
president until otherwise provided In- law, also a town clerk and marshal,
which election shall be the first organization of the said town, and thereafter
said offices may be abolished or new nftices created as may be prescribed by
ordinance.

ARCHER MADE SEAT OF JUSTICE.

Section I. Of an act passed and approved on March 7th, 1855, entitled
an Act defining the boundaries of counties herein named and for other pur-
poses. (Had reference to Richardson, Nemaha, Blackbird and Dakota
counties.) This act materially reduced the boundary of Richardson county
and contained the following important sentence : "The seat of justice is
hereby located at the town of Archer, in said Richardson county."

An act to provide for the permanent location of the county seat of
Richardson county :

Section I. Be it enacted by the council and House of Representatives
of die Territory of Nebraska, That the Board of County Commissioners, of
Richardson County, Territory of Nebra.ska, are hereby authorized and
empowered to cause an election to be held on the first Tuesday of April, A.
D. 1857, at the different voting precincts in said county, for the purpose of
permanently locating the county scat of said Richardson county. For this
purpose each voter may designate upon his l^allot the place of his choice for
the county seat, and when the votes are canvassed, the place having the
majority of all votes polled shall be the county seat, and public notice of said
election shall be given within thirty days, by the Board of County Commis-
sioners, by posting up notices, in three several places in each precinct in
said count}'. *

Section II. It shall be the duty of said Board of County Commission-
ers to give at least twenty days notice of said election, by causing notices to
be posted up at three different places in each precinct, and the qualifications
of voters, the manner of holding elections and making returns thereof, shall
be in accordance with the statutes of this territory governing elections.

Section III. If no one place has a majority of all the votes polled as
provided for in section i of this act, it shall be the duty of the county com-

ICO RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

missioners of said county, within one month after said election, to order a
special election and give ten days notice thereof, by posting up notices in
three public places in each precinct in said county, at which election votes
shall be taken by ballot between the two highest places voted for at the first
election, and the place having the highest number of votes shall be the county
seat of said county, and notice thereof shall be given as required by section
one of this act.

Section No. IV. Any contest of any election held under the provisions
of this act shall be brought before the county clerk and shall be conducted
and deti.-rmined according to law governing elections in this territory.

Section Xo. W That the county seat of said county be and the same
is herebv temporarily located at the town of Salem, in said Richardson
countv. until said election is held anil determined according to the provisions
of this act :

Provided, that the county commissioners of said county shall become
satisfied that the town of Archer, the present location of the county seat of
said county, is located on and embraced within the limits of the half-breed
Indian reservation in said county.

Section AT. This act to take effect and be in force from and after
its passage.

Approved. February 9, 1857.

An act supplementary to an act to provide the permanent location of
the seat of justice of Richardson county.

Section i. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives
of the Territory of Nebraska, That the seat of justice of Richardson county
be and the same is hereby located at West Salem on the west half of the
southwest y4 of section Xo. (3) three, and the east yi of the S. E. ^4 of
section X'o. (4 1 four in township Xo. (i) one, north of range X^o. (15)
fifteen east in said county.

Section 2. That it shall be the duty of the county commissioners to
remove the records of said county to said place above named immediately
3,frer the taking of efi"ect of this act.

Section 3. That so much of the act to which this act is supplementary
as conflicts with the provisions of this act. be and the same are hereby
repealed.

Section 4. This act shall take efl:'ect and l>e in force from and after the
first day of March. .\. D. 1857.

Approved Fel)ruary 13. 1857.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I5I

The first act to come under this head affecting Richardson county was
that incorporating the "Town of Archer," which was approved on January
25, 1856.

BENCH AND BAR.

Proclamation of acting Governor Cuming, of the Territory of Nebraska,
issued from the executive department of Nebraska Territory on December
20, 1854, assigned "Hon. Edward R. Hardin, assistant justice of the Supreme
Court, to the second judicial district, embracing all that portion of territory
lying south of the Platte river in Nebraska Territory." The proclamation
recited that the appointment was made for the "purpose of administering
justice in the Territory of Nebraska."

An Act to provide for permanent location of county seat of Richardson
county. Approved February 9, 1857.

An Act to establish permanently County Seat, Richardson Countv, bv
vote of the people. Approved October 3, 1858.

An Act to authorize H. W. Summerlad, and George Walther to keep
a ferry across the Missouri at Arago. Approved January 3rd, 1862.

An Act to authorize Felix Kitch, A. P. Forney, and Joshua Murray
to keep a ferry across the Missouri at Rulo, Nebraska Territory. Approved
January 11, 186 i.

They were allowed to charge : For two horses or mules and buggy,
!|5i.oo; for each extra pair, 25 cts; for horse, or mule and rider. 25c; for two
horses or mules, and buggy, 75c ; i horse or mule and buggy, 50c : for horse
or mule led, 25c; loose cattle per head, loc; hogs and sheep per head, 5c:
f(_)otmen, loc; each cwt. of freight loc; lumber $3.00 per i.ooo feet.

An Act to establish and keep a ferry at Winnebago, by Neal J. Sharp
and John Singleton. Approved March 6, 1855.

An Act to Incorporate the "German Sangerbund of Arago"' by F. Kam-
merer, H. W. Sommerlad, J. O. W'irth, H. Volbrecht, Charles F. \\'alther
and L. Allegewahr, had for its object the promotion of artistic taste in gen-
eral and vocal music in particular by the practice and performance of sacred
and secular music. Approved January 9th, 1862.

An Act to Incorporate Arago. Approved January 10, i860.

An Act to Incorporate Falls City. Approved January 13th, i860.

An Act to Incorporate Falls City Library Association, by C. H. Norris.
David Dorrington, H. O. Hanna. George Van Deventer, J. H. Burbank. J.
Edward Burbank, S. H. Schuyler. E. S. Dundy and Jacob Good. Approved
December 21st, 1861.

152 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

An Act to Incorporate Riilo. Approved November ist, 1858.

An Act Supplemental. Approved January 11, 1861.

An Act to locate Road "Little Xemaha River to Kansas Line." Will-
iam Trammel, Louis Misplay and Levi Dodge, empowered to view and locate
road, at or near where military Road crosses same near Dr. Jerome Hoover's
mill, running thence southerly on most direct and feasible route by way of
Maple Grove ford, on Muddy Creek, thence to ford the Grand Nemaha river
below the falls, known as Singleton's Ford, thence to the Kansas line.

Approved January 22, 1856.

An Act to authorize Charles McDonald to erect a mill dam across the
north fork of the Grand Nemaha River in Richardson County," on n. w. %
of Section Xo. 22, Twp. 2, North of Range No. 14. Approved February
10, 1857.

An Act defining the boundaries of counties herein mentioned and for
other purposes. This Act reduced the size of Richardson county to the pres-
ent size and located the county seat at Archer. Approved March 7th, 1855.

An Act to authorize Silas Babcock, to erect mill dam across Long
Branch at "any point within four miles from town of Franklin, in Richard-
son Co." Approved January 6th, i860.

An .\ct to authorize \\^illiam A. TafHemire and Garret N. Martindale
to erect a mill dam across Muddy Creek, Richardson County, on n. w. y^
Sec. 16, Twp. I, N. of Range No. 16. Approved February 11, 1865.

An Act to attach the Counties of Gage & Jones to the Council Districts
composed of Pawnee and Richardson. Approved January 11, 1862.

An .Act to locate road from Brownville to Archer. A. L. Coot, Strander
Fronian. F. G. McMillen, appointed Commissioners to meet in .\rcher. May
1st, 1856. $3.00 per day for time actually employed. Approved January
2nd, 1856.

An .\ct to appoint Commissioners to view and locate a territorial road
from Pbttsriiouth in Cass County to Archer in Richardson County. Will-
iam kakes, Cass County; John Singleton, Richardson County, and Gideon
Bennett, of Pierce County. "The nearest and most practicable route to
Nebraska City, thence to Brownville, to Archer in Richardson County, thence
to the Kansas line by way of the ford on the Grand Nemaha river, known
as the Singleton's ford, having due regard for personal property as well as
ground o\er which road shall pass; to be 30 feet wide; all male inhabitants
between ages of 21 and 43 required to work 2 days each year on road.
Approved, Alarch 14, 1855.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 53

xAn Act to Inc. Town of Salem. Approved February loth, 1857.

An Act to Inc. Town of St. Stephens. Approved November 3, 1858.

An Act to Authorize School District No. 37 to issue bonds for the pur-
pose of erecting High School, $20.00. Approved February 2nd, 1875.

An Act to restore Civil Rights to Joseph Deroin. Approved February
1 8th, 1867.

An x\ct to vacate Block No. 126, Falls City, Richardson County.
Approved February 12, 1867.

An Act to authorize Falls City Precinct, in Richardson County, to issue
bonds to aid in the construction of a court house for Richardson County,
$20,000. Approved February 14th, 1873.

An Act to vacate the alleys in Blks 6, ^2, and 125 Falls City, Richard-
son county. Approved February 9th, 187 1.

An Act to authorize Zachariah J. Parsons to establish a ferry across the
Missouri at Rulo. Approved February 5th, 1866.

An Act extending the time for commencing of a railroad in Richardson
County. St. Louis and Nebraska Trunk R. R. Was to be located so as to
pass through Rulo and Arago.

' An act to provide for the perfecting the probate records of Richardson
County and confirming the same. Approved February 9th, 1871.

An act to provide for selling 10 acres of northeast J4 sec. 16 twp. i
north of Range No. 16 in Richardson county, so as to include the burying
ground situated on said land. Approved June 24th, 1867.

An act to revive the herd law within precincts of Muddy, Porter,
Franklin, Humboldt. Grant. Tibert}-, in Richardson county. Approved June
3rd, 1871.

.\n Act to vacate the townsite of ^Vinnebago. Approved February 5th,
1866.

An Act to vacate the Townsite of Yankton. Approved February lotli,
1866.

An Act tn vacate the Townsite of Archer, in Richardson County.
Approved February 10, 1866.

CHAPTER VI.
Location of County Seat.

We have gone to a great deal of pains to examine the official records
of the county in tracing the various elections on the .matter of locating the
county capital the one eA^ent among all others important in the beginning
of county government. The matter of its location in Richardson county
differs little, perhaps, from that of other counties from the fact, that of the
citizens of a new country, many at the very outset become excited over this
one momentous event from other causes than a desire in getting a point most
advantageous to all as to geographical location. In all new countries the
matter of real-estate values are at once effected and it thus becomes a matter
of pecuniary interest to a very great number of the people. So it was in
our case, as will be seen by following the history of the various contests.
If the historian were confined strictly to the official minutes of the meetings of
the commissioners' court in session at th eearly territorial county seat of
Archer, or that of the later one at Salem, the story told in the minutes would
convey but little information bearing upon the various phases of the elec-
tions. The record made by them is here given, however, for the
purpose of showing that official notice of the various elections was taken
and for the further purpose of showing officially the dates of such elections
and the names of those present on the several occasions, who took part in an
official sense. This we have believed was important in an historical story,
such as this, of what was no doubt the most hotly contested elections ever
held in the county and the ones upon which the turning point in the history
of a very great area of the county was most largely affected.

The official minutes of the commissioners court go so far as to say in
the various instances that "no choice was had between the various contest-
ants," but gave no result in figures throwing light on the result of the canvass
of the votes in a definite sense. Nor do they give any idea of the struggles
in every precinct of the county in the matter of the work done by the friends
and various partisans of the towns entered in the races. This part is left
for others to tell and much of it will never be told, as no record of it is now
available.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

155

That an election for the purpose of giving the people of the county a
chance to make a selection of a town within the county for a seat of gov-
ernment was long expected, and that events had for years been shaping to
that end. is more than proven from the fact that more than one townsite had
been laid out by speculators with an idea single to its availability for just
such a purpose and those sponsoring the same had bended every energy pos-
sible at their command in an attempt to win friends for their particular town.

FIRST ELECTION.

Taken from minutes of board of county commissioners' meeting held
at Salem, Nebraska, Territory on (special term) November 15, 1858:

"Now comes the county commissioners and in pursuance of an act of
the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Nebraska, entitled an act to
establish permanently the county seat of Richardson county, approved Octo-
ber 3, 1858, it is by said board ordered that an election shall be held at the
several voting precincts of Richardson county on Monday, the sixth day of
December, 1858, for the purpose of determining the choice of a majority
of the voters of said county as to the location of said county seat.

"It is also ordered that in pursuance of law an election shall be held "at
the same time and places to ascertain the choice of a majority of the voters
of said county on the question whether an act passed at the fourth regular
session of the Legislature of the Territory of Nebraska to Restrain Sheep
and Swine from running at large shall l)e enforced in Richardson County."

The following were appointed as judges and clerks of election :

Archer precinct No. i : Ambrose Shelly, Archibald McMillan, ^Vingato
King.

Salem precinct No. 2 : John Cornell, John W". Brinegar, Richard M.
DeLong.

Speiser precinct No. 3 : John Luginbill, Elijah G. Davenport, James
M. Allen.

.Rulo precinct Ni 1. 4 : Charles Martin, John Stone, R. F. Cunningham.

St. Stephens No. 5 : William R. Cain. Jacob Wagoner, Lewis Philip.

Franklin precinct No. 6 : John Corlett, H. B. Porter. William Furrow.

SECOND COfNTV SEAT ELECTION.

Taken from minutes of board of county commissioners held at Salem,
Richardson count}-, Nebraska Territory, December 9, 1858, there being pres-
ent Commissioners F. L. Goldsburv and Arnett Roberts :

156 RICIFARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

"Xow comes the Board of County Commissioners and by them it is
ordered that a second election shall Ije held in the several voting precincts of
said county on Saturday, the 25th day of December, 1S58, for the purpose of
determining the location of the coiuity seat of said county in pursuance of
the provisions of an act of the Legislature of said territory, entitled an Act
to Locate permanently the County Seat of Richardson County, approved
October 3, 1858. there having been no place elected to be the said county
seat at the election on the 6th day of December, 1858, and it is further set
forth in said order that the town of Rulo, St. Stephens, Falls City, and Salem
are to be the four contending points for said county seat, they being the four
highest points voted for at said election on the 6th day of December, 1858."

THIRD COUNTY SEAT ELECTION.

Taken from minutes of county commissioners at meeting held at Salem
• on the 27th day of December, 1858:

"Special Term of the County Court held at Salem on the 27th day of
December, 1858, a petition from the citizens of Archer Precinct praying for
the removal of the voting place from Archer to Falls City, presented and
si^ed by Phillip Breamer and eighty-nine others, of which said prayer was
granted."

A third election on the coiuity seat question was then ordered to be held
on the tenth day of January, 1859, for the purpose of permanently locating
the county seat of Richardson County.

The following named persons were judges of said election to serve in
the different precincts:

Archer No. i : W. AL Maddox, W. King, Isaac Crook.

Salem No. 2 : J. Coffman, R. M. DeLong, T. Greenup.

Speiser No. 3 : J- Luginbill, J. B. Shellhorn, E. J- Davenport.

Rulo No. 4: C. ■Martin, B. F. Cunningham, J. W. Stone.

St. Stephens No. 5 : J. Campbell, F. Chauvin, J. Cowan.

Franklin No. 6 : J. Scott, J. Corlett. A. D. S. Ayers.

The foregoing business was transacted by Commissioners F. L. Golds-
bur\- and Arnett Roberts.

REEATIAK TO BUILDING COURT HOUSE.

Cop\- (if tlie following appears on the minute book of the county com-
missioners, l-'ebruary. 18^9:

RICHARDSON COrNTV, NEBRASKA. 1 57

"Salem. Richardson Coiint\-, Nebraska Territory, February ii, 1S59.

"Know All Men by These Presents:

"That John A. Burbank. }»Iayor of Falls City, on behalf of the corporate
authorities of the Town of Falls City is firmly held and bound to the county
of Richardson and Territory of Nebraska in the penal sum of Five Thousand
Dollars, lawful money of the United States, for the payment of which I bind
myself and successors.

"The conditions vi the above is that if the above named parties shall
erect or cause to be erected upon the public square in Falls City a two-story
Brick or Concrete Court House, Thirty bv Fifty feet in dimensions and to
cost not less than ($3,000.00) Three Thousand Dollars to commence the
same on the First Da>- of A'lay next and to donate the same with the Twenty-
J''our Lots contained in the Public Square to the County of Richardson.

"Provided the County Seat should be located at Falls City by Vote of
the People at coming election and to be held so long as the County seat shall
remain at Falls City and no Longer, then this obligation to be void other-
wise to remain in full force.

"^^'itness M}- fland and Official seal this igth December, 1858.

"John A. Burbank (Mayor.) F. C.
"Attest:

•'S. R. Jamison. Dct. Clk."

locating county seat.

From minutes of county commissioners court held at Salem, Nebraska,
iMarch 7, i860:

The following named persons are api»inted judges of election : Falls
Cit\- precinct, David Dorrington. James Buchanan and E. W. Hutchinson.

St. Stephens precinct, Jacob Wagoner, William R. Cain and L. Allege-
wahr.

Ruk) precinct. Isaac May, A. P. btirney and Joshua Murry.

I'ranklin precinct, H. B. Porter. J. W. Davis and Boyd Reeves.

Salem precinct. Thomas Greenup. S. McDaniel and R. M. DeLong.

Speiser precinct. L. DeWebber, J. Shellhorn and J. Luginbill.

Ordered that there be an election held in the several voting precincts of
Richardson County. Nebraska Territory, according to an act of the Legis-
lature approved January, i860, for the jnu-pose of locating the county seat
of said county, on the Thirst ^Monday in .\pril, i860.

1[^8 RICHARDSON CdlNTV, NEHKASKA.

Commissioners Omrl, April 7, i860. Present. Thomas ]\lclntire and
Charles Cornell.

At an electiim held in Richardson county on the first jMonda}' of April,
1866, for the purixise of locating the county seat of Richardson county. No
place getting a majority of all the votes polled, the board ordered that an
election be held on the i6th day of April, i860, to decide which of the fol-
lowing named places shall be tlie county seat, viz : Salem, Falls City, Rulo
and Arago.

Present, Thomas ]\lclntire and Charles Cornell. At an election held on
the i6th day of April, i860, in Richardson county for the purpose of locat-
ing the county seat of said county. No one place getting a majority of all
the votes polled the board ordered that another election be held on Monday
the 4th of June, i860, to decide which of the following named places shall
be the county seat viz : Falls City and Rulo. they being the two places which
received the highest number of votes at the election held on the i6th of April.

A. J. De.shazo. County Clerk.

PATK OF ELECTION CHANGED.

"Seven petitions were presented asking to change the time appointed for
the County Seat Election be changed from June to an earlier day. The
petitions were granted. The time was changed from the first Monday in
June to Tuesda}' the 22nd day of May."

A. J. Deshazo, County Clerk.

"On to wit: 25th day of b'ebruary A. D. 1859:

"Xow at this day the matter of the contested election for the County
Seat of Richardson county being for determination as between Falls City,
Contestant, and Salem, Defendant. The same having been hereto before
on to wit the 19th day of February A. D. 1859 argued and submitted by
counsel for said parties respectively. And having been considered and duly
weighed. It is considered, determined and adjudged that the judges of
election at the St. Stephens Precinct were not lawfully qualified to hold said
election ^^•herefore in canvassing the votes cast at said election. The votes
cast at said St. Stephens Precinct were properly and of right should have
been rejected. And it is further determined and considered and proved by
evidence produced in said contest and by the admission of parties that more
votes were cast at the Falls City Precinct at .said election in favor of Salem
for Cnunty Seat than were returned by the election Board of said precinct

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 59

also that at least one illegal vote was at said election and at said Falls City
Precinct cast and connted by the election Board of said Precinct in Favor of
said Falls City for County Seat wherefore by reason of the premises afore-
said it appears that a majority of the legal votes cast at said election were
cast in favor of Salem.

"And it is therefore considered adjudged and determined that at an
election held in the county of Richardson and Territory of Nebraska on the
loth day of January A. D. 1859 under the provision of an act of the Legis-
lature of the Territory of Nebraska approved on the 3rd day of October A.
D. 1858 entitled 'a Bill for an Act to establish permanently the County Seat
of Richardson County by a vote of the people' the Town of Salem in said
county was Chosen and is hereby under the provisions of said act adjudged
and determined to be the County Seat of Said County.

"James T. Wright, County Clerk."

The foregoing is taken verbatim from the minute books of the county
commissioners.

The following is taken from official minutes in county clerk's office:
Salem, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory.
County Clerk's Office February 4th, 1859.

Personally appeared before me County Clerk of Richardson County, N.
T. E. S. Dundy in behalf of the town of Falls City wherein they contest the
election for County Seat in Richardson County, Nebraska Territory.

Because the Board of Canvassers refused to count the vote polled at
the St. Stephens Precinct — Second because the said Board of Canvassers
acted erroneously, illegally and without authority of law in rejecting and
refusing to count the votes taken at the St. Stephens Precinct on the loth
day of January 1859.

There being no disposition taken and no witnesses present in behalf
of Falls City, all they asked was that the poll books of St. Stephens Precinct
be taken as evidence in the case which was agreed to and the testimony in
behalf of Falls City was closed.

It was further agreed to by both parties that the matter lay over for one
week for the purpose of the defense procuring further evidence and Satur-
day the 19th day of February 1859 being the day appointed for that trial.

James S. Wright. County Clerk.

l6o RICHARIISON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS.

•Falls City
vs.
Rule.

Before A. J. Deshazo
County Clerk of Richardson County Nebraska
Territory, on the 5th of June, i860.

Contested election Held for County Seat of said County on 22nd May,
1S60.

Now nth August A. D. i860 the above entitled case after having been
continued from day to day for the cNamination of witnesses, taking testi-
monv ect. came up for argument and final disposition. And after examina-
tion of the testimony and the papers in the case, and the law regulating elec-
tions ect. and after hearing the arguments of counsel for the parties, Plfifs.
and Defendants, the Clerk being fully advised in the premises, it is ascer-
tained, considered and determined, decided and adjudged that Falls City
received a Majority of All The Legal Votes polled at the election held in
said county on the 22nd May i860, for the location of the county seat of said
county, under and by virtue of the provision of the act of the Territorial
Legislature, entitled, an Act for the Location of the County Seat of Richard-
son County by a vote of the People, approved 13th January i860.

It is hereby further determined, decided and adjudged that Falls City,
the Plaintiff in this case is the lawful and Permanent County Seat of Richard-
son County aforesaid, it having received a majority of all the legal votes
polled in said county on the 22nd May i860, that being the last election held
for the location of the same, and that Rulo the Defendant, has no lawful
and valid claim to the same, as appears from the law and the evidence in
the case.

This 13th (lay of August i860.

A. J. Deshazo, County Clerk.

LAST COUNTY SEAT CONTEST.

The final effort to cliange the county seat in Richardson county was set-
tled by an election held on October 10, 1871, in response to a petition which
had been presented to the county board of commissioners by citizens of Salem.
In canvassing the county for signers the Salemites represented that thev
wanted to make just one more effort, and that this should be the last. The

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA l6l

petition was circulated in every nook and corner of the county and the parti-
sans of Salem worked as they had never worked before. When a sufficient
number (two-thirds) of the vote, had been obtained, the petition was pre-
sented on August 31, 1871. In arranging for the election, the county board
had decided to be governed in the registrations made for the election of dele-
gates to the constitutional convention in May, and upon a canvass of the
different precmcts it was found that there were 2,421 names registered and
that it would require 1,614 signers to the petition to get the election. The
Salem committee found that they had only 1,587 names and asked until Sat-
urday morning of that week to procure the remainder of what would be
required. The request was granted and Saturday morning they again appeared
with a sufficient number of signatures to bring the total to 1,650. The com-
missioners thereupon ordered that an election be held as requested and desig-
nated as the day, October 10, 1871.

In the intervening days was staged one of the fiercest contests in the
annals of Richardson countv elections. The result was as follows :

County Seat. fllli lllllll^ail

Falls City 77 133 470 33 8 104 11 103 53 ___ 67 3 81 C 17 1171

Siileni 119 23 4 12 100 56 01 26 .31 m 162 157 28 06 26 10.30

Geneva ___ ___ _._ 2 1 — ._ 3

Humboldt ___ ___ 1 __ ___ __ ._

On October 12. 1871, the AU^inaha J'allcy Joiinial, published at h'alls
City, had the following to say, descriptive of the election just held :

"Last Tuesday, Octol^er loth, 1871, was another eventful da\- in the
history of Richardson county. The question for decision was this: 'Shall
the Coimty Seat be Removed from Falls City to Salem?" Under the law it
requires two-thirds of the vote polled to be given to a certain point before a
removal can be effected. In this case Salem was the point, but instead of get-
ting the two-thirds majority, she lacked about seventy-seven votes of getting
half the vote polled.

"This virtuallv settles the question, and leaves l-"alls City as the seat of
government for Richardson countv.

"There was an immense throng of people in town from early on Tuesday
morning until late Wednesdav evening — all extremely an.xious as to the results

l62 RICIIARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

of the election, Ijoth in regard to the county-seat (|uestiiin and tlie election of
county officers. Excitement ran very high, I)ut no quarreling, and very little
drunkenness was visible. The election board brought their labors to a close
about daylight on Wednesday morning and the result showed four hundred
and seventy for Falls City and four for Salem in the city on the county-seat
question. By this time there was enough precincts heard from to show a
majority in favor of Falls City. There was rejoicing among the people, and
town property was declared to be worth thirty-three per cent, more than it
was before the result was known, and it was resolved by unanimous consent
that some store boxes should be .sacrificed on Wednesday evening.

"About twenty-five new buildings are now proposed to be built imme-
diately, and business men are looking about them with renewed energ\-.

FALLS CITY CELEBRATES.

"On Wednesday evening a large number of the leading citizens, half-
grown boys, etc., congregated in front of the City Hotel at the southwest
corner of the court house square (Seventeenth and Stone streets, as it is now
known), and determined to have a 'blow out' on a small scale on the pros-
pects of the election and the result of the county-seat vote in particular. So
a huge bonfire was built and enjoyed for awhile when the 'village blacksmith'
turned out his artillery and fired a national salute of thirty-seven guns in
honor of the victory. George Van Deventer, Colonel Burbank and Hon. A.
R. Scott were then called for, in the order of their names, and responded with
appropriate remarks for the occasion. The crowd then dispersed with deaf-
ening cheers for the speakers and for Falls City, the county-seat of Rich-
ardson."

Commenting on the result of the election insofar as it affected the ]5rin-
cipal contestants and the people of the county as a whole, W. S. Stretch had
the following to say in his paper, the Xciiialia Valley Journal, under date of
October 19th, 1871 :

"Our most sanguine hopes and ardent wishes in respect to the county-
seat question are being realized with far greater rapidity than an\- one could
reasonably anticipate ten days ago.

"Salem and Falls City have fought their liattle nobly, bravelw persist-
ently, and the verdict has Ijeen rendered in favor of the latter. The defeated
army accepts the situation and is now willing to let bygones be li>gones and
all join hands and work togetlier for the best interests of the county.

■'Tohn Holt. T- Cass Lincoln, and Doctor Brooke, Salem's most ardent

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 163

workers for ten years past — men who had thousands of dollars depending
upon the issue, and who gave unsparingly of their money, time and energies,
not hesitating to sacrifice personal friendships where they conflicted with their
purpose, we are told, have buried the hatchet forever. There are a few, how-
ever, who are unwilling to let the fire be quenched, but, fortunately, they are
very few in numbers and are to be pitied rather than feared.

"AH honor to Holt, Lincoln, Brooke and others, who have shown the
wisdom and manliness to drop the vexatious and harmful question. They
have come to the conclusion that it cannot benefit Salem, and realize that it
has been a great injury to themselves and the county at large. \Vhen we
realize that these men have been the life and soul of the contest from its
commencement, and that the)' have now alxindoned it and withdrawn their
material support and influence, it will be conceded to be a dead issue by all.

"Falls City holds no grudge against Salem for bringing all her force
and influence to bear upon the vote for county seat, neither should the latter
feel aggrieved at Falls City for equal vigilance and energy in maintaining
what she legally possessed, for to sum up the whole thing, it was only a mat-
ter of dollars and cents between the two towns. We regret, however, that
much was said and done by both parties, which is calculated to irritate and
do great injustice and harm to all concerned. But we are glad to know that
Falls City, while she cannot help rejoicing over the victor}', has no desire to
detract one iota from the merits of Salem, but manifests a disjiosition to
heal the wounds of the late conflict, and lay aside all of those local dissensions
which have proven so disastrous to the development of our county for years
past. She recognizes in the leading citizens of Salem a noble and manly
spirit, and we can assure them and the people of the county generally that
she will in the future, as she has tried to do heretofore, work for the best
interests of the county, and do all in her power to elevate it to that standard
of wealth, prosperity and population, where it should already stand, and ulti-
mately will attain — the first in the state.

"But. however essential it is for us to dwell together in harmony, this
alone will not develop, build up and beautify our country and enrich our
people. We must have mo^e substantial improvements, for without them no
})eople ever have or ever will prosper. We want factories, railroads, county
buildings, improved highways, etc.. and to obtain all of these it require.^-
money and manual labor. We Jlre opposed to the people voting further
count}- aids to railroads, but are very much in favor of ])recinct aid to rail-
roads or any other public improvement or convenience. I'or instance, if a

164 RICIIARnSOiX COl-NTY, NEBRASKA.

railroad should be proposed to run via Falls City north through this county,
we do not think it just to tax Humboldt or Speiser precinct in the west end
to build it : but we think it would be right and proper and highly remunerative
for Falls City, Muddy, Ohio and Barada precincts to render liberal aid to the
project. And we confidently expect that those precincts will be asked to aid
a narrow gauge railroad from Grasshopper Falls northward through this
county before two years elapse.

"W'e believe, too. that the people of Richardson county will be called
before many months to vote a tax for the building of a court house, and
when they are asked to do so. we think it will be for the best interests
of every property-holder and voter of the county to support the measure.
The counties all around us l:ave good court houses, and they look upon
us as penurious and miserly for not providing ourselves with proper public
buildings. Let us not be sneered at any longer, for we are amply able
to afford as good buildings as any county in Nebraska. We have now
as gdod a jail as can be found in the state, and for thirty or forty thou-
.sand dollars on twenty-}ear eight per cent, bonds, we can have as good
a court house. When we have, this county will soon be thickly popu-
lated, and in a few years we can take our stand as the banner county in
the state in point of wealth and population."

COUNTY P.Uir.DINGS.

The first court house erected for that sole use was built in 1863, at a
cost of three thousand dollars. It occupied the center of the public square
in block Xo. 59. the site of the present court house and was built as per agree-
ment I>y the citizens of Falls City made prior to the elections held to determine
a location for the county seat at the time the same was removed from Salem.
It was a frame structure and gave way in the days of the early seventies to
tilt tiieii new and now present building;

On .\pril JO, 1872, a proposition for the issuing of twenty-five thousand
(Inllars in coupon bonds, to be used in the building of a new court house, was
sul)niitted to the county com.missioners in due form. The provisions of the
proposal were that a building of brick and stone, two stories high, and not
less than thirty-six by sixty-six feet on the ground floor and containing two
fireproof vaults, should l)e erected. The bonds issued were to bear ten per
cent interest, which was to be met by an annual special tax. The principal
wa> to be paid in ten years time, the county retaining the right to make pay-
ment at an earlier date if it seemed preferable. In accordance with this

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 165

proposition, the commissioners authorized an election to take place on May
13, iS/2, in the several precincts. At this election the measure failed to
secure a majority, and was lost.

On February 14, 1873, the Legislature passed an act enabling the pre-
cinct of Falls City to issue bonds for the building of a court house of stone
and brick, not less than forty-seven by eighty-five feet, and containing fire-
proof vaults for the safe keeping of the county records.

In accordance with this act, a proposition was submitted to the county
commissioners, who by the provisions of the act were duly authorized, and
I)v them an election was ordered for May 13, 1873. These bonds were to
be in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, to be payable on ®r before the
expiration of ten years, and to draw ten per cent interest, which was to be
paid 1)y a special tax, to be levied on the first of May, each year. The pre-
cinct decided on the issuing of the bonds by a vote of two hundred and eighty
to one hundred and fourteen. Shorth- after the election, the work of remov-
ing the old court house and erecting the new court house was commenced
under the charge of H. E. Moritz, of Speiser township, president of the
board of county commissioners, and pushed to completion.

The fifteen thousand dollars in bonds were sold for Ijetween eigiUy and
ninety cents on the dollar, and the proceeds used for the new building. The
sale of the bonds did not, however, supply sufficient means to meet the cost
of completion and furnishing of the court house and as much as fifteen thou-
sand dollars were raised for this purpose. Maddox had the contract for the
excavation of the cellar and employed some of the county prisoners on the
job while it lasted. The brick used in the construction were of home manu-
facture, the same coming from the kilns of Mr. Beagle on the banks of the
Nemaha. Rock for the foundation was procured, at what at that time was
known as the Dundy quarries, and now owned by Doctor Minor, south of
the city. These rocks were first class and the quarries still furnish an abund-
ance of building material to this day. The sand used was furnished by Chris.
Hershey and was procured at the Maddox and Brannin farms. Charles
Loree, clerk of the district court at the present time, says that he was busy
in those days hauling wood from his father's timber to the Beagle brick kilns,
where it was used in burning the brick.

In 1882 further improvement was made b\- enlargement and the build-
ing of additional rooms in wings on both the north and .south side of the
main building.

l66 RICirAKDSOX COUNTY, NI

■HE COUNTY JAIL.

The count}- jail is the most substantial structure owned by the county,
being constructed entirely of stone and is located on the northeast corner of
the court house square. It is arranged with the cell houses on the first floor,
while the jailer and family have rooms on the second floor. It was erected
in 1871 at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars, by J. H. Burbank.

NAMING OF FALLS CITY.

It is saitl that many of those who had to do with the laying out and
building of Falls City desired that it be named Lanesville in honor of one
of its founders, a man by the name of Jim Lane. Falls City, however, was
later decided upon from the fact that on account of a flood which washed
away many of the homes of those then residing at a village on the banks of
the Nemaha named Nemaha Falls, had come up on the higher ground and
they insisted that the vt'ord falls l^e retained because of the name of their
town and from the fact that it had been so named on account of the falls of
the Xeniaha river at that point. Accordingly, Falls City was chosen and has
so remained as the name of the city to this day.

When Joseph Hare arrived at Salem in 1854 he found but two others
had preceded him, S. H. Roberts and John Singleton.

W. T. Stout sold the land on which the town of Falls City is now
located for the sum of fifty dollars. Jim Lane, of the Town Company, was
the buyer.

FIRST governor's FIR.ST RECEPTION.

The first reception to Nebraska's first governor, Hon. David Butler,
who was a resident of Pawnee City, was given by the citizens of Falls City,
soon after he was inaugurated governor and at a time when he was a guest
of Hon. E. S. Dundy, of this city, who was later a United States district
judge at Omaha. Hon. Isham Reavis gave an address of welcome and Doc-
tor Messier was leader of the band that furnished the music.

While on this \'isit the governor issued his first proclamation conven-
ing the state Legislature. Judge Dundy wrote the proclamation and the
governor sign.eil it.

On the (juarter century anni\er>ary of Nebraska's statehood, R. D.
Messier recalled to mind the following interesting incident in connection with
the reception of the governor in Falls City on a visit made while chief

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I67

executive. Pie said "1 am reminded of an interesting little circumstance of
those early days wlien Falls City was a stage station and "Scotty" would
blow his 'orn." ("Scotty" was Scotty Bradford, a driver of one of the
stages owned by Squire Dorrington.)

"I was then a boy, when, walking up Stone street at the old "Dorring-
ton corner." so well known to all old settlers and where now stands the Dorr-
ington Ijlock (at corner of Sixteenth and Stone street) I met Hon. E. S.
Dundy. He stopped and informed me that that night Falls City was to be
honored as a city by the arrival of her hrst governor — the later great and
good Governor Butler. I say great and good, for who ever knew Governor
Butler intimately, but to love him for his big heart and generous nature.

"What I want," said Judge Dundy, "is to know if you can drum up
some music?" I had an old fife and the judge had some drums, so we went
to his little old brick law office and fished them out of the back room and by
procuring a few feet of rope, fixed them so they could be used. Then the
question was, who could beat them. Col. W. A. Presson happening along
volunteered to hammer the bass, and I skirmished around and found some-
one else to beat the snare. We then retired to the suburbs of the city (and
by the way it was not far ) and practiced. \Yt\\. the music was not as fine as
Gilmore's band or Thomas's orchestra, but it was the best the town afforded.

"Six o'clock came and with it the stage and in the stage, the governor.
He was the guest of Judge Dundy. After supper we repaired to the resi-
dence and commenced. The late Flon. Judge Marvin introduced the gov-
ernor and the Hon. Isham Reavis made the speech of welcome. (Here we
must make a little statement.) We as a band thought we were giving the
occasion a rosewood finish with our music, when Judge Reavis apologized to
the governor for ouf poor music on the ground that we were out of practice.

"This was the first reception of the first governor of our great state.
Nebraska has had several governors since but none so good nor any with such
a checkered career."

CELEBRATE RAILROAD S COMPLETION.

At the time the .\tcliison & Nebraska railroad (now owned by and a
Itart of the Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy system), from Atchison to T.in-
coln was completed through to the latter place, a proper celebration of the
event took place at Lincoln. The company ran an excursion from Atchison
to Lincoln and prominent citizens from each of the stations along the line

l68 RICITAUnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

were invited to the same. Falls City was honored with al)out forty invitations
and the train was scheduled to leave Atchison early in the day and was timed
to reach this station I)y 8 o'clock a. m., but failed to arrive although our dele-
gation were present at the station. Many waited about the station during
most of the forenoon and still the belated train did not put in its appearance.
The delay caused many to forego the pleasure and they returned to their
homes. Among the party was a number of young mothers who with their
babes h?d intended to go, but among them was Mrs. Sarah Schoenheit (now
Mrs. J. R. Wilhite) who changed her mind and decided to stay at home.
The excursion train reached Falls City about noon. Returning to her home
in the bus. she conversed with the station agent and inquired of him if she
might not be able to go on the regular train which would be along about 3
o'clock as she now felt that she must not miss this historic event. The agent
advised her that her ticket could be fi.xed so that it would be acceptable and
with her baby and a small nurse girl she returned in the afternoon and made
the journey, arriving at Lincoln in the evening, but not too late to enjoy most
of the program arranged for the occasion. The Falls City party, who had
gone on the earlier train were much surprised to see her later, but tliey all
joined with the enormous crowd present in Lincoln that evening in making
it an event memorable in the history of that city.

THE MEEK-DAVIS TR.-\GEDY.

In the summer of 1855, a town was surveyed out, about two and one-
half miles northeast of Falls City, which was christened Archer. In the
same year, at a point seven miles west of the site of Falls City, the village of
Salem was platted. At that time Archer was the county seat, so designated
by the Territorial Legislature, and the residents and promoters of the place
felt at first secure in the idea that it would remain so, but a dispute arose
over the location of the half-breed line to the east, which was a boundary line
of land reserved to the Indians. To settle the misunderstanding the gov-
ernment ordered a re-survey for the purpose of making corrections, if the
same were found necessary. The new surveyors found an error, w'hich
caused the line to take in a goodly portion of the Archer townsite. This
condition robbed Archer of any possibility of remaining the county seat at
that time. The residents of Salem, therefore, sent a petition to the Terri-
torial Legislature asking that the county seat l>e removed to that place and
it was accordingly done.

In 1857 the noted F'ree-Soil leaders, Jim Lane, Judge Hunt, Ike Hamby

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 169

and John A. Burbank took a section of land for a townsite, and had it platted
and recorded as Falls City, and began the erection of improvements thereon :
but in 1859 that portion of the townsite lying on the west was vacated by a
legislative act, and was taken up by the town company as individual prop-
erty. Included in the land located originally were the farms of Anderson
Miller and George Roy.

In the same year Jesse and Isaac Crook and others removed their fam-
ilies from Archer to Falls City, giving it quite a little boom, and resulted in
calling the county commissioners together and they were asked to arrange
for the holding of an election for the purpose of again locating the county
seat. This was done and the election was held, resulting in a plurality of
si.x votes in favor of Falls City. In the contest as aspirants for county scat
honors, were Falls City, Rulo, Salem, Geneva and St. Stephens. This elec-
tion took place in the summer of i860. .\t that time Geneva, which was
located in the exact geographical center of the county, was a town of con-
siderable importance, having several business houses and quite a number of
residences, but after the county seat question was settled the town went into
rapid decline, and all that remains of it are two tall trees and traces of cel-
lars, over which the houses stood.

During the years that preceded the final location of the count)- seat at
Falls City, much bitterness between the citizens of the various competing
points was engendered, and many was the rough and tumble firstcuffs that
took place, but nothing of a serious nature happened until on the day of the
election, when Doctor Davis, of Rulo, and a man by the name of Thomas J.
Meek, of Falls City, were killed in the old frame hotel, known as the City
Hotel, and kept at that time by Isaac Minnick. The hotel building was
located on the corner lot on Stone street, now occupied by the three-story
brick building owned by the Richardson County Bank, Holland & Slocum and
Falls City Lodge No. 9 of the Masonic fraternity. The City Hotel was built
by Jesse Crook, who with his wife operated it for a time as a hotel and the
same was later in charge of Isaac Minnick.

TRACEOV DESCRIBED.

The building faced the west on Stone street with a side entrance on the
north side. It was a story-and-a-half building, the stairway leading to the
upper story going ;directly up from the north entrance. It was in the room
at the head of those stairs that Doctor Davis was killed by Meek, and it
was on the stairs that Meek was killed by Doctor Dunn, of Salem, under

170 RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

the following circumstances : So great was the anxiety of Rulo, and of
Salem, which had joined hands to defeat the location of the county seat of
Falls Citv, that Doctor Davis had been sent to Falls City from Rulo and Doc-
tor Dunn from Salem, to watch the polls and see that no illegal votes were
polled. Mr. Meek had been selected by the people of Falls City for the
same purpose. During the day an altercation ensued between the men, in
which Mr. Meek had been worsted and was forced to retire to repair dam-
ages. He went across the street to the business house of J. Burbank, where
he loaded two re\olvers and prepared to return to the hotel. In the mean-
time. Davis, who had become hurt in the melee, had laid down on a bed, in
the room at the head of the stairs mentioned above. When Meek returned
he w ent to the head of the stairs and began firing at Doctor Davis, who w-as
King on the bed. In the meantime Doctor Dunn came to the foot of the
stairs and perceiving what was going on, drew his gun and began firing at
Meek, one ball piercing his heart and he fell dead. Doctor Davis lived
for a few days after being shot. Having killed Meek, Doctor Dimn went
out and mounted his horse and escaped to Salem. As he went, however, he
was fired at by the editor of the Broad Axe, a Mr. Jameson, who had a
shotgun in his hand, and by another person who had a rifle, but neither of
which hit him. He was never arrested, although he passed through Falls
City a few days afterwards, with a wagon-load of ladies, bound for Rulo.
He was counted a brave, mad man — dangerous with a gun, and the people
"wanted no truck with him.'" Such was the baptism of blood that gave to
our citv the countv seat and started it on its course of advancement.

CHAPTER VH.
Roster of County Officers.

The records disclose that the first officers of Richardson county could
not have been rightly accused of having been attracted to public service for
any reason on account of the emoluments attached thereto, as the first officers
were appointive, and tlierefore temporary, and carried with them but very
little, if anything, in the \\a\' of salary. Yet, as the years went by, tliere
arose the keenest rivalry between candidates, a condition that exists to this
da}".

Ijut, as a review of the lists of those elected will show — some of the
ver\ ablest men of the county have from time to time served its neople in
puljlic capacity, rendering most efficient service and the history of county
government in Richardson county has been singularly free on the whole from
scandal of any kind by those entrusted with public duty.

The first definite record in the court house shows that the county began
its official career with the is.suance of commissions by Acting Governor Cum-
ing at Omaha on January i, 1855.

COUNTY CLERK.

At that time (January i, 1855). Xeal J. Sharp became the lirst county
clerk, which office was combined in this count\- with that of regi.ster of deeds,
b\- appointment. The salar)- in this instance was provided for by fees and
for the first year: so little was done, it could not have amounted to more
than one hundred dollars. Sharp held the office until the spring of 1856,
when he was succeeded by J. C. Lincoln, of Salem. Lincoln served only
until the fall of that same year, when it appears that ¥. L. Goldsbery assumed
charge. In the fall of 1857, William H. Mann was elected to the office and
held the same until 1861, when George \^andeventer, from near Stella, was
the successful candidate at an election held and occupied the office until 1864.

.\t the election in 1864 James Cameron and William Mann were the
candidates. The election was indecisive and James ^^'ard was api)ointed to
act as clerk until the contest might he settled. On March ir. 1865, a deci-

172 RICHARDSON OirXTV. NEBRASKA.

sioii was had giving the office to Mann, ahhough the election boards had
favored Cameron. Mann served continuously until 1870, when August
Falsken was chosen as his successor. Falsken was impeached on July 21,
1 87 1, and Frank Rathen named to succeed him, for the unexpired time.

I'^alsken, however, came back and was re-elected by the people of the
county and served during the term of 1872-73. At the end of this lime
L. A. Ryan was elected and served a term of two years. He was succeeded
as follows : Ruel Nims, two years, W. H. Hay, four years ; George Pearson,
two years; M. W. Musselman, four years: George Marsh, four years: E. O.
Lewis, four years, ending in 1896.

In the year 1886, owing to result of last state census taken in 1885.
the office of county clerk and that of register of deeds, which had always been
together, were now separated and in the fall of that year Charles Loree was
elected as the first to serve as register of deeds. The office remained in the
same room with that of the clerk, however, and the register occupied the
north part of the room next to the vault while the clerk and the commis-
sioners occupied the south and east portion. Charles Loree served as reg-
ister for six \ears, when the population of the county, as ascertained by the
census of 1890, sliovved a falling off (the population required at that time
under the statute for the separate office of register of deeds was 18,003), and.
the office of register of deeds was again merged with that of county clerk and
Mr. Loree, foreseeing the change that was to come, w'isely ran for county
clerk that year and was elected. He served as such until January l. 1S98.
when he was succeeded by George E. Schneider, who served four \ears or
until 1902 and Loree was retained as deputy county clerk.

Following Schneider, J. C. Tanner was elected and served four years.
On January i, 1906, John H. Hutchings, of Falls City, who had been elected
in November, 1905, became county clerk and served four years. He was
followed by George A\'. Morris, who served four years, and he by Ora Marsh,
the present incumbent.

FIRST PROBATE JUDGK.

The man having the honor to be first probate judge was Christian Bol)st,
the father of Samuel Bobst, who is still a resident of Humboldt. The elder
Bobst was the leader of a party of the first settlers in this part of the West.
He was a native of Baltimore, ^Maryland, and was born in that city on Sep-
tember 2, 1802. He and his party came into the country in 1854. in the
month of April, and he located his cabin on the south fork of the Xemaha on

RICHARDSON COl'NTV, NEBRASKA. I73

the iKjrthwest quarter of section 25, township i, north of range 12, on April
4tli. His house was the first erected in what w as later to Ije a part of Pawnee
county; however, at that time, a part of Richardson county.

Christian Bobst receixed the appointment of probate judge from the first
governor of the .Territoi-y of Nebraska, Hon. Francis Burt, in the fall of
1854. with the designation that he was to act for Richardson county, at that
time one of the eight original counties of the state. His jurisdiction extended
over the county as then bounded: comprising territory now included in the
counties of Pawnee, Johnson, Nemaha and Richardson; the south line being
the Kansas-Nebraska boundary to a distance of sixty miles west from the
Missouri river, and the north line being the Little Nemaha river, in what is
now Nemaha county, with the Missouri river as the east line, and on the west
by what was then Tones county. This appointment was made through recom-
mendations of Col. Neal J. Sharp, of this county, who was a memlser of the
first territorial Legislature. Mr. Bobst and the Frey family, also early set-
tlers in that neighborhood, started the town of Cincinnati, long ago dead with
all its founders. When Pawnee county came into being, old Cincinnati was
included in the newer county.

Mr. Bobst was an able and fearless man and made himself conspicuous
in much of the work incident to the formative period in those days of the
pioneers. He and his party came into the state from the south, coming up
through Kansas from Leavenworth, and entering the state near where they
settled and were there when the first settlers entered this more easterly part
of the count) at St. Stephens. For many years all of the residents of the county
got their mail at the home of Judge Bobst.

FIRST COUNTY JUDGES.

A little later, however, when the size of the county was materially reduced
in area. J. O. Miller, of Archer, and the father of Mrs. William M. Maddox,
now a resident of Falls City, was appointed probate judge and is generally
recognized as having the best claims for having been the first judge of Rich-
ardson county; however, the officer was at that time from (1855 to 1875).
known as probate judge. The duties of this office under the early terri-
torial laws were vastly different than now. covering, as the\- did, a much
larger field of importance in man\- ways. Many of the duties of this oftice
have since been distributed to other offices. |. O. Miller held the office niUil
1856.

[74 RICHARDSON ((ILXTV, NEBRASKA.

An act was passed and the same appro\ed by the Territorial Legislature
on February 21. 1855, establishing the office of register of deeds, or recorder
of deeds, as sometimes known, the purpose of which was an office where deeds
conveying real estate are officially made a matter of record for publication.
The office was at first established in the eight counties first to be organized in
the territory and under the law was called the register's office. The office was
established as a fee office, viz., the incumbent depending upon the fees earned
for his salary, and it has so remained. The first persons to hold the office were
appointed

Xeil J. Sharp was the first to serve in this iiuportant office and held it
by appointment from the governor of the territory, Mr. Gumming. He
served from 1855 until 1861, when he was succeeded by William H. Mann.

The first deed to appear in the records of the office appears in book A
at page No. i and was as follows :

Francis X. Purket

to
Ambrose Shelley.
Deed.

I'or and in consideration of the sum uf Two Hundred Dollars paid in
hand, 1 hereby sell and con\-ey, quit-claim, unto Ambrose Shelley all my right,
title and interest to certain of the public lands upon which I now reside situate
upon the Muddy Creek, Richardson County, Territory of Nebraska and
jjounded north l>y the claim sold by John Purket to Joseph Minter — being one
mile east and west and one mile north and south, the creek running through
the claim. The tiiuber on the northwest corner. To have and to hold the'
same with all the improvements thereon.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, the nth day of Nov-
ember, 1855.

Franci.s M. Purket.
Territory of Nebraska,
Count}- of Richardson, ss. :

I liereb\ certif}- that on the 12th day of .\pril, 1855, personally appeared
before me iM-ancis M. Purket known to me to be the identical person whose
name appears on the foregoing deed as grantor and acknowledged the same
to be her \oluntary act and deed for the purposes therein set forth.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. ]-Z,

In testimony whereof I liave hereunto set my name and affixed prixate
seal. No pul^lic seal having )et Iieen provided at Archer, day and date alxive
written. N. J. Sharp,

The record does not show an\- other to hold the office as register of deeds
until the election of Charles Loree in the fall of 1885. The office in the
meantime having been administered in conjunction with that of county clerk.

The national census was taken in 1900 and it was ascertained that the
county had gained sufficient population for the office (18,003) and in igo2
William H. Rieger was elected register of deeds for a term of four years.
He was followed by L. C. Edwards, of Humboldt, who was elected in Novem-
ber, 1905, and served from January 4, 1906, until January 7, 1915 — nine
years. He was succeeded by Norman B. Judd, of Falls City, the present
incumbent, who was elected for a term of four years.

In the register of deeds office as it is conducted in Richardson county
ami throughout the .state, for that matter, is kept a record of all real estate
land conveyances. The earliest records to be found there are dated in 1856
and 1857. Deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, mechanics liens, wills
and all papers affecting the titles to real estate, are brought to this office and
there copies of same are made in large books arranged especially for that
purpose. In the early days all this work was done with pen and ink in what
is called "long hand" and the work was quite arduous. Exact copies of such
instruments as are offered for record are made and the same properly indexed
that they ma}- be easily found by parties desiring to see the same. The first
books used were small and with but few pages and the indexing was done in
the fore part of same. Later, large books were provided, containing some
se\en hundred pages and books of equal and larger size for indexes. The
method pursued was still to write the copied instrument with pen and ink ; yet,
at a later date a system in vogue in older states, was adopted, of having a por-
tion of the instruments printed on the pages of the records, leaving the
recorder to supply the portion necessary for each individual instrument com-
ing into his hands. Looking back from the present time, it is amusing to
recall that some of the able members of the legal profession of the county
objected to the latter method of using the printed forms, and the officer in
charge in those days went so far in answer to the objectors as to make dili-
gent inquiries from some twenty-five or thirty counties of the state to learn
the custom emploxed. It was found that the counties over the state were
adopting the printed tonus very generally, and this seems to have silenced

176 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

those who would have re(|uired the recorder to continue the antiquated method
of reducing his entire record by the old method of writing the same in long
hand. A later method, and one which has proved a great saving in the mat-
ter of space used and time saved, besides making a much neater record, was
the adoption of the "loose-leaf" system in the office by the writer, while in
charge of the office. The deed mortgage and index records were all changed
to the loose-leaf system and the same is Ijeing adopted in other offices at the
court house, although the same first found favor in the office of the clerk of
the district court. With a loose-leaf system, a wide-carriage typewriter is used
and displaces almost entirely the old long-hand method.

CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT.

For several years after the organization of Richardson county, the duties
of clerk of the district court were performed by the county clerk, and it was
not until the entry of Nebraska in the sisterhood of states and the adoption
of the new Nebraska state Constitution in 1875, that the new office of clerk
of the district court was formed and the duties of its incumbent separated
finally from that of the county clerk.

The first to hold the office of clerk of the district court in Richardson
county was W. S. Stretch, who was appointed in 1875 ^"d '^^Id office until 1879.
He was succeeded as follows: T. C. Cunningham, from 1879 to 188.^;
Charles Loree. 1883 to 1887 — (Loree this year being elected register of
deeds.) Thomas Brannin, 1887 to 1889 (resigned); John L. Cleaver,
appointed to fill vacancy, or until December 10, when he was succeeded bv
C. L. Metz, who served out the remainder of Brannin's term until 1891, when
he was re-elected for four years, or until January i, 1896. Charles L. Metz,
1896 to igoo: G. J. Crook, 1900 to 1904; Charles Loree, 1904 to 1917;
re-elected 1916,- for term of four years.

COUNTY TRE.'XSURER.

The county treasurer's office, which has always been considered as one
of the most important offices in the county was first entrusted to the hands
of Isaac Crook, a brother of Jesse Crook, and one of the very first
settlers of the county. Mr. Crook, coming first, had no precedents to
guide him and the duties at that time were very similar to a practice yet
maintained in some states, where the treasurer is more properly designated as
"ta.x collector." The latter term more fully describes the duties of the first
treasurer, as it was rec|uired of him that he go about the county and per-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I77

sonally meet and collect funds due from the taxpayers. This practice was
later discontinued.

Mr. Crook was appointed in 1856 and continued in office until about
i860. He was followed by D. A. Tisdell, of Salem, who served until 1863.
Others follow in this order : D. R. Holt, 1865 to 1871 ; P. B. Miller, 1871 to
1875; Fred W. Miller, 1875 to 1877; John W. Holt, 1877 to 1882; J. R.
Cain, 1882 to 1886; William A. Greenwald, 1886 to 1890; Jack F. Walsh,
1890 to 1892; George W. Marsh, 1892 to 1896; John H. Morehead, 1896 to
1900; Robert Wyatt, 1900 to 1902; O. E. Zook, 1902 to 1906; Joshua S.
Lord, 1906 to 1910; John H. Hutchings. 1910 to 1915; G. W. Morris, 1915
to 1917; Morris now serving second term.

(12)

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Year. County Surveyor.
1854—

1855-
1856-

1857-J. J. Lebo [2]
1858— Ml. McManus [2]
1859 — A. J. Cur ranee
i860 — A. J. Currance
1861 — Joseph Broady
1862 — Joseph Broady
1863 — John Gray
1864 — John Gray
1865 — ^John Gray
1866— M. Adam
1867 — M. Adam
1868 — Allen J. Currance
1869 — Allen J. Currance
1870 — Allen J. Currance
1 87 1 — Allen J. Currance
1872 — Ira Beckwith
1873 — Ira Beckwith
1874— Thomas V. Wilson
1875— Thomas V. Wilson
1876— P. A. Tisdell
1877— P. A. Tisdell
1878— Thos. W. Moore
1879— Thos. W. Moore
1880— S. C. McElroy
188 1— S. C. McElrov
1882— J. L. McElroy
1883— J. L. McElroy
1884 — Creighton Morris
1885 — Creighton Morris
1886 — Creighton Morris

1890—
1891-

1892— F. W. Miller
1893— F. W. Miller
1894— R. E. Grinstead
1895— R. E. Grinstead
1896— R. E. Grinstead
1897— R. E. Grinstead
1898— R. E. Grinstead

G. W. Parker

S. S. Keiffer

W. M. Maddox

Henry C. Burnam
Russell Peery
B. M. Nelson
B. M. Nelson
G. R. Summers
G. R. Summers
N. B. McPherson
N. B. McPherson
John Schulenberg
John Schulenberg
\Vm. ^^an Lue
Wm. Van I.ue
A. Miller [12]

A. Miller

B. F. Leechman
B. F. Leechman
M. C. Ryan

M. C. Ryan Chas. Loree

H. H. Pierce Chas. Loree

H. H. Pierce

H. O. Staver

1 84

COCXTV, NEBRASKA.

Year.
1899— R.

1900

1901

1902

1903—
1904—
1905— R.
1906— R.
1907— R.
1908— R.
1909 — R.
1910 — R.
191 i-R.
1912-R.
191 3— R.

1914— R.
191 5— J-
1916-J.
1917— J.

County Surveyor.
E. Grinstead

Rantzma

E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead

E. Grinstead

F. Relf
F. Relf
F. Relf

Coroner.

Wm. J. Wells
Wm. J. Wells

J. A. Waggoner
J. A. Waggoner
J. A. Waggoner
J. A. Waggoner
Dr. M. L. Wilson
Dr. M. L. Wilson
W. R. Waggoner
W. R. Waggoner
W. R. Waggoner
George W. Reneker
George W. Reneker
George W. Reneker
George W. Reneker
George W. Reneker

William Rieger
William Rieger
William Rieger
William Rieger
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
N. B. Judd
N. B. Judd
N. B. Judd

( 2 ) J. .1. I.eho resigned and Michael McManus was appointed to fill out the term.
(12) A. Miller, wlio was regularly elected, did not qualify. Alex Kerr was appointed.

Tlie act creating this office was passed hy the Territorial Legislature
and approved February 21, 1855. and Xeal J. Sharp was appointed as the
first register of deeds of the countw The cjffice was later comliined with
that of county clerk and so remained until 1885, when the population had
increased tn such an extent that the Inisiness was changed to a separate and
distinct office as it liad lieen originally.

SUPERVISORS.

The board of superxisors organized according to law and elected W. \\'.
Abbey, of Falls City, as permanent chairman, the board of county commis-
sioners having surrendered their offices as previously stated.

1886: Alember.s— W^ W. .Vbbey, Samuel Lichty, Falls City: Charles
E. Nims. G. R. Grinstead. Humboldt township and precinct; Leopold Porr.
Speiser; James Johnson, Porter; Joseph McGinnis, Nemaha; Philander Hall,
Salem; John F. Cornell, Liberty; George \\'atkins, Muddy; R. .\nkrom,
Barada ; Francis Shaffer, Ohio ; Jerry Kanaly. Jefferson ; James T. Kinzer,
.\rago; W. H. Rowell. St. Stepiiens. and Charles Cole, Franklin.

COUNTY OFFICERS RICIIAUHSON COrXTV. 101.1

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 185

The first work of the new organization was to make inquiry iiitu the
matter of delinquent taxes, which state of affairs at that time in the count)-
was a pressing ciuestion, and the adoption of a new set of rules.

Samuel Lichty, of the new Ijoard, offered the following resolution,
which was intended as a matter of economy, no doubt:

"Whereas: $300.00 a year has heretofore been paid for the services of
the court house janitor. Resolved, This Board of Supervisors will not allow
any bills for sweeping, attending fires (stoves then being used for heating
purpose in each of the county offices), or furnishing water for any cif the
county offices."

Be it said for the good sense of a Richardson county board of super-
visors that the above resolution did not carry, the vote (if the meniljers
present standing, three for, and nine against.

1888: Hugh Boyd, Rulo; C. C. Sloan, Ohio; W. H. Logan, Falls City;
Leopold Porr, Speiser; Charles B. Gridley, Franklin; Jos. Johnson, Porter;
Felix Kitch, Jefferson ; D. M. Neher, Humboldt ; J. G. ^NIcGinnis, Nemaha ;
I. G. Burr, Grant; Philander Hall, Salem; J. F. Cornell. Liberty; W. H.
Crook, Falls City; Henry Fisher, Arago; Henry D. VVeller, Muddy.

1889: Felix Kitch, C. E. Nims, R. Coupe, Thomas F. Brown. V. A.
Smidi, Robert Lord, Charles Cole. Cyrus Jones ; \Y. PL Crook, Francis
Shaffer, John Cornell, August Buchholz. Henry Fisher, T. R. Jones, J. \\'.
Jones, B. F. :^Iiles.

1890: James Tangney, August Buchholz, Thomas Lynch, B. F. Miles,
Thomas F. Brown, August Xeitzel. J. F. Cornell, W. H. Crook, C. W.
Hedges, J. A. Boyd, Charles Cole, Cyrus Jones, Francis Shaft'er, Robert.
Lord, Richard Coupe. P.- .\. Smith, David Neher, J. W. Jones.

1891 : C. A. Hedge, C. B. Gridley, S. C. Stump, J. H. Smith, of Hum-
boldt; J. W. Jones, Isaac Fisher. B. I-. Miles, C. I'red Cain. Falls City: John
Gagnon, Rulo.

1892: William Stephenson, Speiser; Joseph Boyd, .\rago: W. J.
McCray, Porter; Oliver Fuller, Liberty; j. W. Spicier, Barada: J. H. Smitli.
Humboldt ; T. P. Jones, Falls City ; James Tangney, Jefferson ; Isaac I-'isher,
Nemaha ; John Gagnon, Rulo ; C. B. Gridley, Franklin ; C. A. Hedges, l-'alls
City; J. W. Jones. ^Muddy; B. F. Miles. Grant: Sol C. Stump, Ohio.

1893: R. K. Davis. Humboldt; T. P. Jones, Falls City; Alex McGehie.
Muddy; George Smith, Grant; W. R. Smith, Ohio; C. A. Fledges. Falls Cii> :
G. E. Schneider, Nemaha: C. B. Gridley, Franklin: John Gagnon, Rulo.

1894: J. FI. Smith. Humboldt: Joseph Frederick, Arago; C. A.
Stewart, Salem: W. H. Sailors, Barada: Henry Ebel. Jefferson; G. R. Grin-

l86 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

stead, Humboldt: William Stephenson. Speiser; Oliver Fuelo, Liberty; T. P.
Jones, Falls City: W. J. McCray, Porter; John Gagnon, Rulo; C. B. Gridley,
Franklin ; C. A. Hedges, Falls City ; G. E. Schneider, Nemaha ; A. H.
jMcGehie, W. R. Smith, George Smith. Grant.

1895: Joseph Johnson, William Cade, M. M. Stearns; M. B. Miller,
C. A. Hedges, S. D. Hoffnel, George E. Schneider; Charles Bright, C. E.
Nims. W. R. Smith.

SUPERVISOR DISTRICTS REDUCED TO SEVEN.

Special meeting of the county board of supervisors:

To Ellis O. Lewis, clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Richardson
county, Neljraska.

W^e, the undersigned members of the Board of Supervisors, in and for
Richardson county, Nebraska, request you to notify each member of the
said board and publish notice in some newspaper in said county that a meet-
ing of said board will be had at the court house in Falls City in said countv
and that on the 13th day of .\ugust, 1895, at 10 o'clock P. I\[. for the trans-
action of the following business: "To divide the said county into seven
districts, such districts to be known as supervisor districts, the same to be
numbered from one to seven, to assign one member to each district. To
organize the board, elect a chairman and appoint the different committees."

Jo-seph Frederick. Henry Ebel.

C. A. Hedges. William Cade.

C. A. Stewart. George R. Grinstead.

M. B. ]\Iiller. George E. Schneider.

In compliance with the above request I have hereby called a special
meeting of the county board, .\ugu.st 13, 1895, at 10 o'clock P. M.

E. O. Lewis, County Clerk.

1806: Joseph Frederick ( i) ; Jason Timmerman (2) ; C. E. Nims (3) ;
li. S. Belden (4) : Charles Hedges (5) : R. .\. Wherry (6) ; Frederick \^'itt-
wer (71.

1897: H. S. Belden, Jacob Daeschner, Joseph Frederick. Joseph Glasser,
G. Iv Schneider, Jason Timmerman. R. .\. ^\"herry.

1898: W. J. AlcCray. K. F. Auxier, k. .V. Wherry, Jacob Daeschner,
Joseph I'Vedei'ick. Joseph (ilasser. l-'red. Wittwer.

1899: John Ramsey, W. J. AFcCray, Josepli Glnsser. 1{. E. .\u\ier,
Jacol) Daeschner. ^^■. ^\■. K-nne, I'-mest \\'ickham.

RICHARDSON COINTY, NEBRASKA. 187

1900: John Ramsey, E. Wickham, J.'Daeschner, Joseph Glasser, J. J.
Tanner, E. E. Auxier, J. ^V. Spickler.

1901 : Chris. Madovvse, Joseph Glasser, John ]^Jooney, William
Stephenson.

1902 : Chris. Madowse. Joseph Spickler, Joseph Glasser. W. G. Hum-
mel, J. W. iVIooney, John Hinton, William Stephen.

1903 : G. J. Santo, J. W. Spickler, W. G. Hummel, Joseph Glasser,
John H. Hatchings, John ETinton, C. B. Snyder.

1904 : Charles Santo, Charles Snyder, John H. Hutchings, Joseph
Glasser, John Hinton, W. J. McCray, J. J. Bauer.

1905: John Hinton. W. J. McCray, J. J. Bauer, C. J. Santo, C. F.
Zoeller, Charles Atwood, J. O. Stalder.

1906: John Elinton, W. J. McCray, Joseph Bauer, C. J. Santo, C. F.
Zoeller, Charles Atwood, J. O. Stalder.

1907: Henry Stemmering, W'. J. McCray, Joseph Glasser, J. J. Bauer,
C. F. Zoeller, John Hinton, J. O. Stalder.

1908: John Hinton, William McCray, H. H. Fritz, J. O. Stalder, H.
Siemmering, Henry Zoellers.

1909: Harmon Loennig, R. .-\. Coupe, H. Siemmering, Henrv Stitzer.
EL H. Fritz, W. J. McCray, John Hinton.

1910: R. A. Coupe, Henry Fritz, H. Stitzer, Harmon Eoennig, John
Hinton, H. Siemmering, L. M. Weddle.

191 1 : N. C. Campbell, R. A. Coupe, H. Nutzman, M. ]\IcHouver. John
Elinton, E. M. Weddle, H. Fritz.

1912: M. Sheehan, J. A. Weaver, T. R. Edwards, M. McHouver, X.
C. Campbell, H. Nutzman, R. A. Coupe.

1913: N. C. Campbell, H. Zoeller, Chris. :\Eidowse, H. Stitzer, T. R.
Edwards, M. Sheehan, J. A. Weaver.

1914: C. Madowse, N. C. Campbell. H. Stitzer, H. Zoeller, T. R.
Edwards, I\E Sheehan, J. A. Weaver.

191 5: N. C. Campl)ell, H. W. Wyatt, E. J. Duryea, C. Madowse, T.
R. Edwards, M. Sheehan, J. A. Weaver.

1916: The following members were elected but were not allowed to
take their office on account of change to county commissioner system:
X. C. Campljell, H. Wyatt, J. .\. Weaver, A. Eouchs. E. J. Duryea, Ciiris.
Madowse, Morris Shellenberger. No organization.

1 88 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

COMMISSIONER SYSTEM ADOPTED.

During the fall of 1916 a petition having the requisite number of signa-
tories (resident voters of the county), as required by statute, a proposition
was submitted to the voters at the general election held in the montli of
November, giving opportunity to affirm or negative a change in the form of
county government.

The sujjervisor system, witl: seven districts, had been in vogue since
August 13, 1895, and it was proposed to return to the original commissioner
system of three meml^ers, as had obtained in the Aery early days of the
county.

No proposition ever submitted to the \-oters of the cnuntv had been so
little agitated, nor one where there seemed so little sentiment expressed one
way or the other, among the voters of the county.

It being a national election, the largest vote e\er polled was recorded:

The total official vote polled in the co'.intx- that year

(November. 19x6) was 5-074

Those A'oting in favor of change to commissiuner

system 1.498

Those voting for continuance of supervisor system 1.444

Total of those voters — voting on the proposition ^,942

Total of those not voting on the proposition -.1,^-

jy.lajority in favor of tlie change 54

MEMBERS OF NEW Bt)ARD OF CO.M .MISSIONERS APPOINTED.

Under the law the county judge, count\ clerk and treasurer are con-
stituted a lx)ard to appoint members (;f the board of county commissioners,
the latter to serve initil the next regular election, \\hen their successors will
be chosen by the voters of the county.

l"he following from the official records in the county clerk's office tells
its own stor\- :

"Whereas, at the general election iield in Richardson county, Nebraska,
on the 7th day of November, 1916, the (|uestion of continuance of township
organization form of county government was lawfully submitted to the voters
of the county and a canvass of the votes cast at said election, it was found
and declared that a majority of the votes cast on said (|uestion were against
the coniinuance of tow!ishi]i organization in said county.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IS9

"On January 6, 1917. O. O. Alarsh, amnty clerk: George W. Murris,
county treasurer; and John W'iltse, county judge, met in the county clerk's
office at Falls City, Neliraska, pursuant to law for the purpose of appointing
three commissioners for Richardson county, Nebraska.

"The availability of tlie various candidates for said appointment in the
\arious districts was considered and discussed by the appointive Ijoard, and
tlie following were appointed :'"

1917: Hugh E. JMiyd, Humboldt: Aaron Louchs. Falls City; X. D.
Vu.xier, Verdon.

COUNTY ATTORNEYS.

E. A. Tucker, Edwin Falloon, Jule Schoenheit. Frank Martin. Amos
Gantt, Jaines E. Leyda, Richard C. James, 1916-8.

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

John P. Maule, Dan J. Osgood, A. J. Weaver, Isham Reavis.

ROSTER OK PRESENT COUNTY OFFICERS.

Clerk of tlie district court, Charles Loree.

Deputy clerk of the district court, L. C. Edwards.

Sherifif, Dan B.. Ratekin.

Deputy sheriff, Rice McNulty.

County superintendent, Daniel Webber.

County treasurer, George W. Morris.

Deputv county treasurer, l-'rank Smith.

County clerk, Ora Marsh.

Deputy county clerk, Ray Daggett.

County judge, Virgil" Falloon.

Clerk county judges office, Mrs. Lorena Ilumbarger.

Recorder of deeds, Norman B. Judd.

Assistant recorder of deeds, Charleotta P.Ianding.

Surveyor, J. F. Relf.

County attorney, Richard C. James.

District judge, John B. Raper.

County commissioners — (Appointed on the adoption of the commission
system or countv govermnent at the 1916 election) — Aaron Louchs. Falls
Citv; X. D. .\uxier. X'erdon : Hugh Iv Boyd. Humboldt.

CHAPTER VIII.

f iUCANIZATION OF TOWNSTIIPS AND PrECINCTS.

BARADA TOWNSHIP.

liarada precinct, as now constituted, lies in the northeast corner of tlie
c(jiinty, and is one of the very first parts of the countv to be settled. It con-
tains an abundant supply of excellent water and is well timbered. The soil
is very fertile, producing heavy crops of all kinds of grain, grown in this
latitude. For the most part the land lies well.

As in its earliest days, its soil has in the driest years stood the drought
better than any part of the county. At times when other parts of the county
and the lands on the opposite side of the river have been hard hit from this
cause, old Barada has produced a crop. This was particularlv true a few
years ago, when there was bitt little corn grown on account of drought — at
that time Barada produced almost a normal yield.

This township lies mostly in what was formerly known as the Half-
Breed Tract or Reservation, and was first settled by the French and half-
breed Indians, to whom the land was allotted in tracts of three hundred and
twenty acres to each individual who was fortunate enough to have his or
her name on the list.

ANTOINE BARADA.

Antoine Barada, for whom the precinct and village of Barada was named
was among the first white settlers in this part of the county, Firmin Douville
and Zephyr Recontre, the latter of whom lived to be over one hundred years of
age and in the latter part of his life resided in South Dakota and who accom-
panied the famous Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804 on its journey up the
Missouri and west over the Rocky mountains to the mouth of the Columbia
river, near .Vstoria, Oregon, being the first, with Stephen Story and John B.
Didier, to settle in Barada precinct.

Mr. Barada was a most remarkable man in his day and time and was
born at St. Marv's, near Ft. Calhoun, across the Missouri river from Omaha,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IQI

in 1807, the son of a Frenchman from France, Michael Barada, and his
mother, a full-blood member of the Omaha tribe of Indians. His father,
Michael Barada, was an educated Frenchman, and was employed by the
United States government as an interpreter and served in that capacity in
the making of the famous Prairie du Chien treaty, which was negotiated at
a town in Wisconsin bearing that name and the treaty is known as the Treaty
of Prairie du Chien.

The elder Barada and his wife and young Antoine were stationed at Ft.
Liasr on the Missouri, about two hundred miles north of St. ]\Iary's (above
Omaha). It was here that the lad was stolen from his parents at the fort l)y
a band of Sioux warriors and held in captivit}' at a point some distance farther
west, and a ransom demanded. The lad was recovered some six months later
by his father upon the payment of "two ponies" as a ransom. Upon his re-
turn to the fort with the lad, the father, fearful of repeated abductions, gave
the boy to some soldiers who had promised to take him East, where he would
be educated at the West Point Military Academy. The boy was, accordingly,
taken down the river to Carondolet, south of the City of St. Louis by the sol-
diers, who, however, upon their arrival there and after imbibing freely in
spirits, immediately forgot their high resolves in his behalf and abandoned
him in the streets where, after their departure, he was found stranded and
restored to his aunt, Mrs. Moosac. Later, he was employed in a stone (|uarry
owned by Coates & Whitnell, an English concern. He resided for some time
in St. Louis and was perfectly familiar with the mountain and plain from the
Missouri river to the Pacific coast.

Barada visited this county with a party of Indiains in the year 1816 and
in later years when the first of the pioneers came, they found him here where
he spent the remainder of his life. On his first trip here with the Indians in
1816 they found a drove of elk and deer stranded in the frozen mud on the
banks of the Missouri, near the mouth of the Nemaha, south of Rule, and
which they slaughtered for meat. He made many trips across the plains and
over the mountains. On one occasion he was met by his mother in the
Blackbird hills north of Omaha and she tried in vain to dissuade him from
such travel, but being under contract he continued in service for one year l)e-
fore returning to her. He was a thick, heavy-set man of broad shoulders
and of prodigious strength and is remembered by Richardson county people
particularly for this trait. Many stories are told among those who knew
him best of instances where he lifted great weights and performed feats
demonstrating his great physical prowess. .\t the government arsenal in St.

192 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Louis there remains unto this day a great stone fashioned for a doorsill which
he lifted "clear of the ground." It bears carved on its sides the following
witness: "1700 pounds'' and his name and date inscribed thereon.

Barada died in this county in 1887 and was buried in the Catholic ceme-
tery about a half mile east of the village of Barada, which bears his name.
His sister, Euphraisia, was the wufe of Fulton Peters, another pioneer of
Barada township. He left a number of descendants, the result of his mar-
riage to a French woman, Josephine \'ierhen, who was familiarh- known as
"IMarcelite". He had nine children of whom three are living : Julia ( Provo) ,
at W'althill, Nebraska; Celistia (Kuhn), Rosalia, Nebraska, and Thomas
Barada. also of the Blackbird reservation, north of Omaha.

The French Indians to whom these lands were allotted originally, soon
sold out their holdings to immigrate to points further \\"est. where they
figured for a time in some capacity or another on the very verge of civiliza-
tion.

OTHER OLD SETTLERS.

Among the oldest .settlers of the township was J. L. Stephens, familiarly
known and hailed throughout that portion of the county as "Stephens."'
Jack was "a fellow of infinite jest" and his description of the difficulties of
swine culture in those earh days, must have been heard to be rightly appre-
ciated.

John May was another of the early pioneers who by a strict attention
to business, early secured a competence. In the eastern part of the town-
ship was a settlement of Germans who largely predominate to this day. This
part of the township early had a very neat and substantial Catholic church
erected by the enterprise of Buchholz, Spadth, the Kelleys and other Cath-
olics. In the northern part of the township there was an abimdance of saw
timber, consisting of oak and walnut. There was located a steam saw-mill
by Hiram Browning, who supplied the people of the surrounding country
with a large amount of fencing and frame timlser for houses. In the north-
west corner of the township was what was known as the King settlement,
so called from the fact that Squire J. P. King was the first to commence in
this corner. Here Henry and Milton Shubert produced ten thousand bushels
of corn in one season, about 1870, and in the same season Slocum produced
five thousand bushels. This township has good schools and a progressive
people who are always in the forefront.

The last governor, the Hon. John H. Morehead, began his life in this
count\ in this iirecinct. where for inanv vears he conducted successfullv a

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I93

mercantile business and later Iiecanie the owner of many highly-improved
farms, which he still owns.

Hon. Henry Gerdes, number of the state board of control of state insti-
tutions, spent most of his life in this precinct, where he and his son still have
valuable holdings of real estate.

The apple orchards alone have made this precinct famous throughout
the state, as the (juality raised there always command the highest prices.

ST. STEPHENS PRECINCT.

St. Stephens precinct lies in the northeast corner of tiie county ex-
tending to the Missouri river on the east and the county line on the north.
It has in later years been joined on to Barada and is now so known. The
precinct took its name from the old town of St. Stephens, which no doubt
took its name from the predeliction of some Frenchman for a saintlv name
for a cluster of very rough and ragged hills and bluffs that constituted the
site upon which the so-called town was located. The precinct had a fewer
number of acres than any other precinct in the county.

The surface of the country in this section is quite uneven and a large
portion of the lands being broken and bluffy. This disadvantage was how-
ever counterbalanced by a goodly supply of good hard wood timber and
excellent water. There is a considerable amount of good tillable land lying
in the southwest part of the precinct, on the head waters of the Half-Breed
creek.

The Missouri bottom lands in this precinct amount to several tiiousand
acres and. include timber, swamp and some of the best land in the countv.
The timber is mostly cottonwood, walnut and sycamore. The timber in tlie
early daj's was large and afforded abundant supply of saw logs, which were
rapidly transformed into lumber of the first quality by Sweet & Patterson,
who owned a good saw-mill, to which they later added a grist-mill. The
demand at this point for lumber was great and these early lumbermen were
not able to supply the f|uantity required, yet running their mill to its utmost
capacity.

James Cottier was one of tlie early landholders of prominence, as well
as Gus Duerfeldt. Mr. .Stump, and William Parchen.

The precinct in the early days had a postoffice known as Williamsvillc.
but its market at that time was at Arago.

ig4 RICHARDSON CtlUNT'^;,

FALLS CITY PRFCINCT.

rails Cit_\- precinct is six miles s(|imre, bordered on the south by the
Kansas-Nebraska state line and is sonthermost of the second tier of precincts
west from the Missouri river, and includes some of the most beautiful and
fertile lands to be found in southeast Nebraska.

Nature has dealt most generously with, this localit}^ bestowing upon it
such a combination of her favors as is seldom granted to any section. The
land is smooth, undulating and almost inexhaustible in fertility. An abund-
ance of never-failing stock water, supplied by springs and small streams, is
found almost upon every quarter section in the precinct. A plentiful supply
of good building stone is found on the Great Xemaha river and Pony creek.
In addition to all this, a most beautiful landscape is afforded by a combina-
tion of uplands, broad valleys and beautiful groves constantly presented, to
the eye.

These are some of the general features and advantages of this precinct,
besides which it has many special ones that are deserving of notice. Of these
the most important is the (ireat Nemaha river, which runs entirely through,
the precinct from west to east: its \alley, the most beautiful in the west, is
from one to two miles in width. The lands it embraces are rich, alluvial
flats or Ijottom lands, wet in places, but all susceptible to drainage, and as
corn and grass lands unexcelled by any that the sun ever shone upon.

The Great Nemaha is more than one hundred miles in length, reaching
far into Kansas, with its southwest branches and nearly to the state capitol in
the northwest, draining an immense area of country anil furnishing a ne\er-
failing volume of water.

The Falls of the Xemaha, where the banks and bed of the stream in the
earh- times were formed of stone and where the water had a perpendicular
fall lit four feet over a ledge of rock, gave the name to the precinct as well
as to the city, which we know as Falls City.

The power furnished !\v these falls was used for many years by String-
lield & .Stumbo for a mill.

On the south side of the Nemaha river, and extending to the Kansas
line, is a Iwdy of fine land that once formed a part of the Sac & Fox Indian
reservation, but which was purchased from the Indians and thrown open for
occupation and improvement by the white man. This section now presents
one of the best settled neighborhoods in the entire county.

The Nemaha has two tributaries from the south within the limits of the
precinct. The lirst is Ponv creek, a small creek which empties into the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

195

Nemaha a half mile below the falls. The land lying between the Pony creek
and the Nemaha is very choice, being mostly second bottom lands of great
richness and beautifully situated. The corn patches, or farms, of the Sac &
Fox Indians were located here. The old Indian village occupied the bluff, or
line plateau, above and south of the Falls of the Nemaha.

The village site and adjacent lands are now corn and wheat fields; and
within a half mile from the spot where the bark wigwams once stood was
later a neat and substantial school house, indicating the intelligence and enter-
prise of this later commmunity.

Below Ponv creek, some two or three miles, the waters tif Walnut creek
flow into the Nemaha. This stream is of considerable size and runs due
north for a distance of seven or eight miles from Hiawatha, Kansas.
Tlie Southern Nebraska & Northern Kansas railroad was, as surveyed, to
run from Hiawatha to Falls City along this valley. The Walnut lands are
generally excellent in quality and among the highest priced lands in the county.

THE LOREE BRIDGE.

At the crossing of the Nemaha near the old Burliank farm, a portion of
which is now owned by James Neeld, and on the main line of travel from
southern Nebraska to northern Kansas was the Loree bridge, a substantial
structure above high water, erected b}' the county at a cost of three thousand
dollars. This bridge was liuilt by Majnr Loree and the mud sills used were
hewn from trees grown in the count}-. One, an oak, was obtained from the
farm of \Villiam Boyd, near Salem, and the other, a walnut, was got from
the Indian reservation east of Falls City, special permission being had from
the government to cut the same. The remarkable fact about these two heavy
timbers, so far as this country is concerned, if judged from the present when
there is hardly any timber in the county which might properly be called "saw-
timber^" is the fact that they each squared eighteen inches on both ends and
were fortv feet long. Imagine the size of a tree at the base which, when
hewn, might .square as above indicated and forty feet in length and the value
i:f either (oak or walnut) at the present-day prices. In placing them, special
block and tackle equipment was brought from St. Joseph, ^lissouri.

The Muddy creek runs through the northeast part of the precinct. What
was known in the earlier days as the .\rcher bridge spanned this stream on
the road between Falls City and Arago. Near the bridge on the .south side
of the Muddy was the old .\rcber caniji meeting gro\e where many revivals
had been experienced and immense c.mcourses had often met: where l-'ourth

196 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of July picnics and celel:)rations had been -held and man)' interesting events
transpired, tliat will form a part of the unwritten history of this community
and count}'.

Not far from the camp ground was the residence of Isaac Crook, one of
the fust pioneers settlers of the precinct and county, who arrived in 1855 and
who was the first county treasurer.

The lands lying between the ^Fuddy and the Nemaha could not be
improved upon, either as to situation or soil. It is no exaggeration to say
that of the twenty or thirty sections of upland that lie between these two
streams within the precinct, there is not one foot that cannot easily be culti-
\ated.

The town of Falls City is located upon the beautiful ridge that divides
the waters of the (ireat Nemaha river and Muddy creek. Its location is
declared by all who have ever visited it, to be one of the most delightful — the
grounds upon which it is built, sloping gently to the south and commanding
a view of the country for miles in every direction. The to\\nsite was laid
ofif and occupied some time during the summer of 1857 by James Lane, John
A. and J. E. Burbank, Isaac L. Ilamby and others. Among the early resi-
dents and those who have done most to upbuild this town and to advance its
interests and who were its most active citizens, were Hon. E. S. Dundy, Hon.
Isham Reavis, Daniel Reavis, August Schoenheit, David R. Holt. Jesse Crook,
Ed. S. Towle, James Cameron, Anderson Miller, W. M. Maddox, Dr. H. O.
Haniia, David Dorrington and William H. Mann.

LTp until 1870-71 the population had not reached above about seven hun-
dred, l)ut with the coming of the railroad the business interests exiierienced
a boom and the town grew very rapidly. The next greatest period of boom
was in later years, in 1912 and 1913, when the Missouri Pacific Division was
finally located here, when it experienced the greatest boom in all its history
for the same period nf time.

RULO PRECINCT.

Rulo precinct occupies die southeast corner and takes its name from the
city of Rulo. The town was founded by Charles Rouleau, a bYenchman, who
settled on the site of the town in 1855. The town is located on the Missouri
river alx)ut two miles north of the Great Nemaha, and lies on what was
l(irmerl\- known as the Half-Breed tract: consequently, the town and the
land surrciunding it were allotted to and for a long time held by the half-
jjreed Indians and white men who bad married into the Lo family.

RICHARBSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I97

This class of occupants was not particularly distinguished for enter-
prise, if we accept the lively manner in which the}- conducted their real-estate
transactions, frequently disposing of the same piece of land two or three
times, and their very liberal patronage of the dealer in the fluid extract of
sod corn.

For some years this element seriously retarded the progress ant! growth
of this section of our county, but they disappeared before the tide of immi-
gration that was attracted to this \icinity by its many natural advantages.
The town of Rulo contained several hundred (perhaps seven or eight hun-
dred) people prior to the coming of the railroad in 1871 and thereafter rapidly
improved. In the year 1870, just prior to the coming of the railroad, which
was built in from the south on this side of the river, this point handled more
than one hundred thousand bushels of corn. A steam corn sheller was used
for shelling the corn and the grain merchants there had much to complain of
in regard to transportation facilities. One line of steamers had a monopoly
upon the entire carrying trade on the river and practiced extortion in the way
of high freight rates and, like the later and greater railroad monopoly, were
as much displeasing to the shipper, as they carried the grain when they pleased,
witliout reference to the convenience or interest of the shippers. This condi-
tion caused the shippers to pray for the speedy arri\al of the "iron horse,"
which forever (or at least to the present time), has put the boats out of busi-
ness. They felt that the first snort of the iron horse coming from the south
or east, along the valley of the Missouri, would spoil the nice little thing so
long enjoyed by the steamboat men exclusively.

This precinct embraces a very excellent body of land, all of which is now
highly improved. The character of the farm buildings, improvements and
so forth, will compare favorably with those of any other part of the state.

In the early days cheap lumber was obtained from the Rush bottoms just
across the river and from the extensive establishment of Mr. Sprinkle, near
the Yankton townsite north of Rulo. The Great Nemaha river runs through
the southern part of the precinct. The uplands of this valley consist of smooth
undulating prairie, which in most cases slopes gradually doAvn to the bottom
lands of the Nemaha, which are from one to two miles wide. Several small
streams afiford an abundance of water and groves of timber.

A portion of the Sac and Fox and Iowa Indian reservations were located
in this precinct, on the south side of the Nemaha river.

Rulo precinct has grown rapidlv and is one of the wealthv precincts of
the countv.

lycS lUCHARDSON COVNTY, NEBRASKA.

ARAGO PRECINCT.

Arago precinct lies in the central east portion of the connty. and extends
to the Missouri river.

The town of Arago gives the name to the precinct. This town was
founded by a colony of Germans from Buffalo, Xew York, in the summer
of 1858. Owing to its location on the ^Missouri river, where it had a boat
service both up and down that stream, and its other flattering prospects as
a town, the sale of town lots was quite lively. Judge C. H. Walther was
the pioneer merchant of the place, antl there also was at the time Hon. Lewis
Algewahr, who was then running a saw-mill, surveying the township, etc.
Somerland was with the Burchards, Fredericks (Uncle Peter), the Neitzels,
Nutzmans, Stock and Wirth among its citizens. The first and greatest
attempt at a packing house was the pork-packing establishment conducted
at this place, by Mr. Lewis Algewahr. As a grain market Arago stood
second to no other place in the county in the early days. It had dry goods,
drugs, meat market, pork-packing establishment, cooper shop, flour- and
saw-mills, grain merchants, brewery, furniture store, jewelry, blacksmith,
tin, and shoe shops, hotels, saloon, a singer hall, a fine brass band, etc.. etc.,
besides a jolly, good-natured population.

The precinct embraces some very fine land, and is well supplied with
those essentials for farming purposes — timber and good water. The land
in some portions of the precinct is a little rough, but is used as pastures.
The population is now, as in the older days, largely German, as any one
can see not only from the dialect and customs prevailing, but from the thrift
and prosperity exerywhere prevailing.

The German settlement was first commenced by a colony from Buft'alo.
to which we ha\e already alluded as founding the village of Arago in 1858.
Rallying around the little nucleus formed at Arago, the settlement rapidly
extended until it became a large and distinctive element in our population.
Prior to the organization and location of the German colony, there was
some settlement made in this precinct, but mostly from Missouri. The
lands of this i)recinct being altogether on the Half-Breed Reserve, were
allotted to half-breed Indians.

Among the early settlers in this \icinity were Houston Xuckols, Stephen
Story, Steve Lyon Picotte, William R. Cain. Mr. Cain remained on his
farm for many \ears an honored and honorable citizen, Ijut in later years
reniined to balls Citv, where he spent his declining years. Houston Nuckols
has passed from this stage of action "to that bourne from whence no

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I99

traveler ever returns. '" Who among the old settlers can forget Houston
Nuckols and his schemes? How he ruled the limited world in which he
moved; how he carried on his real-estate transactions, much as boys would
swap jack knives, and how, after a few years of active and, in many respects,
successful strife with the world, he at last fell a victim to the fatal cup.
St. Stephens, which was founded Ijy Nuckols and Story, flourished for a
few years as a trading post and ferry crossing the Missouri, but was Anally
absorbed by the more enterprising town of Arago. Many of the pioneers
crossed on this ferry, with its captain, sometimes called "Pap Price."

The precinct made very little progress until the coming of the Germans
from Buffalo, since which time it has improved steadily and rapidly until
at the present time it is one continuous field of highly improved farms.

Winnebago Branch runs through this precinct from northwest to south-
east, and the Half-Breed Branch from the north through the entire length
of the precinct to the south, with many diverging branches that afiford an
abundant supply of water.

The soil, location and exposure of the lands in this precinct are well
adapted to the culture of all kinds of fruit. It must take first rank in this
respect. The precinct is well supplied with schools in the hands of very
competent instructors and as a consequence contains a highly intelligent
class of people. The advantages of soil, water, etc., together with the
energy and enterprise of the people, combine to make it a powerful com-
munity.

OHIO TOWNSHIP.

The first permanent settlement made in Richardson covmty was at a
point now embraced within the limits of what is known as Ohio precinct
or township.

During the summer of 1854 John Level settled at Archer Grove. He
was the first white man who broke the solitude of this beautiful expanse of
prairie wilderness: the first of a population now numbering many thousand
people. He did not have time to sing "Oh! solitude, where are thy charms,"
for he was quickly followed by others and in a few months a settlement was
formed and the town of old Archer laid off at which the seat of government
was at once established.

The Half-Breed Reservation complication which arose about this time
soon ruined the prospects of the new town, the seat of government departed,
and with it the glory of Archer.

But this did not verv much retard the settleiuent of the rich fine lands

200 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of Ohio township. Prior to the laying- out of old Archer and early in the
year of 1855 Uncle Billy Goolsby located on Goolsby Branch at Goolsby
Grove, where he at once inaugurated a vigorous war of extermination upon
the wolves and wildcats of that section, which he prosecuted as long as a
wolf or wildcat could be started within five miles of the premises, and where
he lived for many years in the possession of one of the most beautiful and
valuable farms in the county. At about the same time or perhaps a little
earlier John F. Harkendorf settled on Muddy creek, near the present crossing
of that stream, known as the Harkendorf bridge. He was probably the
first German settler in the county and a fair representative of that thriving
and prosperous class of our citizens.

These were among the first settlers of the county. In the spring of
1856 the Widow McElroy settled on McElroy Branch and gave name to
that stream. Since that time, each succeeding year, saw an influx of immi-
gration. The settlement of this township was for most part in the ordinary
way, by people from different states and countries. In the northeast part of
the township a settlement of Germans had been formed who, with their
usual industry, rapidly improved their lands.

Within two years antedating 1870 the most important event in the set-
tlement of this precinct was the advent of a large class of Dunkards. They
were sober and industrious in habits, normal and upright in principle and
possessing energy and intelligence and means, which made them ever useful
and desirable citizens.

The natural resources and character of the land entitle it to especial
notice. The soil is the best, being deep, rich and fine. From the location
of the principal stream through the southern part of the township the lands
nearly all lie to the south, causing grass and grains to start earlier than
with any other exposure. It is well watered. The Muddy creek runs
entirely through the southern part of the township. Three smaller streams
empty into it from the north, affording abundant water in every section.
These streams are all fed by unfailing springs of excellent soft water, and
do not dry up in the dryest season. The lands lie smooth down to the
water's edge, there being no bluffs or rough lands in the whole towaiship.
The valley of the Muddy is from one to two miles wide and consists of
first bottom lands. From the Muddy northward the land rises gradually
to the north end of the precinct.

This township is amply supi)lied with good schools and churches and is
one oi the best of the countv.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

MUDDY PRECINCT.

]\Iuddy precinct is at present composed of a single township, witli two
voting places, the one at Stella and the other at Shubert, and for conven-
ience known as east and west Muddy. Formerly it embraced about one-
fifth the area of the entire county, including the Muddy creek for several
miles and all north of that stream to the county line. As at present bounded
it comprises a fine body of land on the north side of the Muddy and extend-
ing to the county line. Sardine branch and several other streams pen*"-
trating it in various directions, afiford to this part of the county an abundance
of good water. The soil, like that of most of the uplands of the county,
is a rich, sand)' loam, well adapted to the culture of corn, wheat, oats, rye,
barley and potatoes. The supply of timber within the precinct is not \ery
good.

The first settlement of this precinct was made as early as 1858. About
this time G. B. Patterson and C. Slagel located on Sardine branch : C.
Van Deventer and the Wilkinson family on "Johnny Cake ridge," and the
Hays family on Muddy creek. A large amount of lands in this precinct
early fell into the hands of land speculators, who proved a curse to the
country and much retarded the early and rapid settlement, holding their
lands until the sweat and toil of the pioneer had enhanced prices and enabled
them to obtain enormous returns upon their small investments. The lands
are now among the best and command the highest prices paid for land in
the county. The land warrants with which they were entered cost the
speculator from seventy-five to eighty cents per acre. Of course the increased
value was owing to the increased value made by the actual occupants, and
it is not strange that all manner of expedients were resorted to. to oblige
the capitalists to pay for a small portion of the improvements in the way
of school houses and road taxes.

The large amount of these speculators' land for a long time accounted
for the light populatiou of this precinct, but in time, like in all the country,
this impediment was swept away and the precinct is now as well settled
as any and as prosperous as the best.

The citizens of Muddy are intelligent and wideawake and have always
taken an active interest in the political and material questions connected
with the history oi our county.

The vote of the precinct has always been counted as being solid for tiie
party of progress. Since the first settlement in 1858, schools have been
maintained in the different neighborhoods of the precinct. In the earlier

202 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

times mail facilities were poorly arranged and mail from this point was
routed to cross the Missouri river and thence was carried north nearly to
the Iowa state line, where it again crossed the Missouri at Aspinwall and
thence to its destination in Liberty precinct.

Muddy is the home of two of the liveliest towns of the county, Stella and
Shubert, the former in the extreme west and the latter in the extreme east
part of the precinct, both having railway connection, the former on the Mis-
souri-Pacific railroad and the latter on the Nebraska City branch of the
Burlington railroad.

PORTER PRECINCT.

Porter precinct, named in honor of Colonel Porter, the first settler in
this locality, is situated in the northwestern part of the county. It contains
thirty-six sections of as fine land as Nebraska affords. There was early a
scarcity of timber in this part of the country, but wherever settlements
were made groves and hedges were planted so this deficiency was not long
felt. The branches of the Little Muddy, a tributary of Muddy creek, waters
the township.

The precinct settled slowly from the fact that large bodies of the land
was held by speculators, who were slow to part with it; but in later times
it got more and more into the hands of actual occupants, who speedily
went to work in a way of making development of the same.

Dr. R. S. Molony, Sr., of Galesburg, Illinois, was the owner of one
of these tracts containing some four thousand acres. This tract was put
on the market in such a way as to prove profitable to the new owners and
convenient to many persons of limited means, who were seeking homes.
The owner, Dr. R. S. Molony, sold alternate sections in farms of eighty
to one hundred and sixty acres on ten years' time at ten dollars per acre,
with ten per cent interest. He rapidly found purchasers for a considerable
portion of his land, and a live, energetic settlement of people was soon formed
in that vicinity. His son, R. S. Molony, a very enterprising young gentle-
man, soon made a fine three hundred and sixty acre farm adjoining this
tract and acted as agent for the sale of the remainder of the land. This
land, which is accounted among the very best in Richardson county today,
and readily sells for more than two hundred dollars per acre, was originally
bought by the senior Molony with school script during war times for the
very meager sum of but a few cents per acre.

One of the very earliest settlers in this part of the county was J. E.
Crowe, who for a number of years carried on farming operations in this

RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA. 2O3

precinct on an extensive scale. About i<SCi8 Mr. Crowe sold the s,n-eater
part of his fine tract of three or four thousand acres, and his fine farm,
known and famed in the west end of- .the county as the "Crowe Farm" to
Capt. W. T. Wilhite. who occupied it for many years and was ably assisted
for a time in its cultivation by his brother, Hon. J. R. Wilhite, afterwards
and for many years county judge of the county and now a resident of Falls
Citv. About the same time a brother of Mr. Crowe — John Crowe — opened
a fine large farm in the same neighborhood.

Barney Mullen, James Cornelius and J. Corwin Fergus and E. C. Hill,
Sr.. were early and substantial settlers of this precinct and possessed of
many hundred of acres of the finest land in the precinct, the two former of
whom are still living residents of the county.

The prairie land of this precinct was exceptionally fine and smooth.
The attention of farmers in this locality has heretofore been tinmed largel\-
to the cultivation of wheat, which succeeds well.

The stock both of cattle and hogs of this precinct is of a superior quality,
owing to the enterprise and intelligence of the leading farmers in improving
breeds.

This locality, being remote from market, its growth was for a time
greatly retarded; but this inconvenience was removed by the building of
the town of Humboldt, which immediately, by its rapid growth, supplied
the facilities for buying and selling so essential to successful farming. The
improvements made have been generally of most substantial character and
th*^ precinct is amply supplied with school houses and churches.

The postofifice at Monterev in the early days accommodated the people
with mail facilities but in these later days the rural mail routes supply each
farmer with the mail he receives.

Porter i)recinct is now in the forefront of the precincts of the county,
having as small a percentage as any of unusable lands and is the home of
some of the wealthy and most extensive farmers of the county.

LIBERTY PRECINCT.

Liberty precinct lies immediately north of Salem, and was part of Salem
and Aluddy precincts until 1869, when the county commissioners in revising
precinct boundaries, determined, as far as practicable, to constitute each
township of lands within the county a voting precinct. Thus, Liberty came
into existence and consists of the territory embraced in township 2 of range
No. 15. Eacli township in the county at this time. 1917, constitutes a voting
precinct.

204 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The precinct occupies the divide between the ^[uddy and Xemaha. The
raih'oad village of Verdon, located in this precinct with the coming of the
Missouri- Pacific railroad in 1882, has grown to be one of the very prettiest
of the towns of the county and has a fine business section, well built up. and
many beautiful homes.

The lands of the precinct are niostl\- uplands, and are very well situated
for agricultural purposes.

The Muddy creek flows through the northern part of the precinct. Some
of the earliest settlements of the county were made in this precinct. Of these
were: Mr. Borden, on the Mudd\-, who came into the precincf in 1855 ; John
and Charles Cornell, who came in 1857: John S. Ewing, William Kinser and
Robert Worley, who settled there in 1858.

SALEM PRECINCT.

Salem precinct is composed of township No. i, range No. 15, and com-
prises some of the choicest lands and one of the oldest settlements of the
county. The town of Salem is one of the first in the county. In the sum-
mer of 1857 there was already quite a village there with stores, postoffice and
blacksmith shop. It is said that one son of Vulcan, who presided over
a pioneer forge at this place, was often complained of by his customers wu'th
having charged exorbitant prices for his work. Upon one occasion one of
them remarked that he "ought to make a pretty good living at such prices for
his work." With a fine blending of humor and impudence he replied: "I
didn't come awa}- out here to make a living, but to make a raise."

-Vmong the early settlers in Salem and pioneers in the mercantile busi-
ness in this county were J. Cass Lincoln and John Holt, who built up one of
the most extensive businesses in the county and were powerful men in the
formative period in this county. The town of Salem is situated in the forks
ot the Great Xemaha river and possesses many natural advantages. It is the
first station west of Falls Cit\- located on the main line of the Burlington &
Missouri River railroad. The first flouring-mill of the county was located at
this point and continued in l)usiness until recent years, when, on account of
the installation of the drainage system, when the waters were diverted, it dis-
continued l)usiness.

Many of the earlier settlers of the county resided at Salem or along the
Xemaha. Among them were: J. C. Lincoln, John Holt, Mr. Pierce. F. A.
Tisdel, Sr., U. .\. Tisdel, .\. |. Currence. Doctor Brooke, Oliver Jennings,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 205

and of the farmers, A. S. Russell, Washington Whiting, James Billings,
Andrew Ogden and Abner Bo}d.

Alany of the earlier settlers of this precinct were from the adjoining state
of Missouri, and brought with them their customs of that section, one of
which was a weekly shooting match, which usually occurred on Saturday
afternoons, when the adult male population assembled in some grove and
engaged in the manly sport of shooting at a mark with rifles, the prize usually
being a quarter of beef or a plump, fat turkey. These gatherings were invari-
ably jolly and sociable, and sometimes under the exhilarating influence of a
little "old rye," became decidedly lively. During the summer of 1857 those
matters were quite popular; but now, alas, owing to the sad and degenerate
times into which we have fallen, they have totally disappeared, and instead
the 3-oung men play baseball and the older ones talk politics or war, all of
which goes to demonstrate that man is a progressive animal.

All along the bluffs of the Nemaha an abundance of building stone is
found. The lands north of the Nemaha are very fine, reclining to the south
with an undulating surface, a deep, rich soil, and are well improved. On the
south side of the Nemaha are several beautiful streams, with ver}' fine valleys;
Rock creek is the largest of these and its valleys afford some of the most
beautiful situations and richest and most valuable lands in the state.

Contrary creek is another fiiie stream, with a considerable amount of
timber skirting its banks. It was so named by Jesse Crook, a pioneer, who,
on coming to it for the .*irst time, was struck with its apparent contrary course
in its meandering.

The fair grounds of the old-time Richardson County Agricultural Society,
were located near the town of Salem and the fairs which were held at this
beautiful place annually from the very earliest times, were the best attended
in the state and the meetings were looked forward to each year with the
greatest interest. Those annual fairs had an educational value to an agri-
cultural community such as ours, that has been wholly lacking in the modern
meetings which have sought to take their places. Salem precinct with her
manifold natural advantages and intelligent population, has always kept even
with the development of our county and her place as one of our best precincts
will always be secure.

GRANT PKECINCT.

When the lx)ard ui county cunimissioners organized this precinct they
conceived the nol)le and patriotic idea of doing a special honor to the b.ero

206 RICPJARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of Appomatox, and so they called this little territory of thirty-six sections,
Grant. The names of individuals, more or less distinguished, have been
attached to nine of the fifteen precincts composing the covmty.

These have been most appropriately arranged in groups or pairs as fol-
lows : In the west we find two eminent Germans, Humboldt and Speiser.
In the east two distinguished Frenchmen, Rouleau and Arago. In the center
two celebrated Americans, Grant and Porter. In the northeast a pair of rare
examples of goodness and virtue. St. Stephens and Barada, and in the north-
west the philosopher, who chained the lightning and brought the subtle electric
fluid from the clouds — Franklin.

Notwithstanding that the subject of this article is honored with the name
of the great Ulysses, yet its greatness is not all in its name. It contains an
enterprising community of several thousand people, good soil, water, wood,
stone, etc. It has the elements of wealth and consequent greatness within
itself. The north fork of the Great Nemaha runs through the south part of
the precinct, affording wood, water and a splendid mill site.

The Burlington & Missouri River railroad runs through this portion of
the precinct along the Nemaha Aalley. The company located the depot and
station about a half mile north of what was known as the Dawson Mills,
where one of the best of the smaller towns of the county now stands.

The village is located about half way Ijetween Humboldt and Salem.
The southwest portion of Grant precinct extends to and includes the south
fork of the Nemaha in the vicinity of Miles' ranch. This ranch, or farm,
embraces several thousand acres and was founded by Stephen B. Miles, Sr.. a
wealthy man and one of the older citizens of the county, and is still owned
intact by a .son, Joseph H. Miles, and his sons. Stephen and \\'arren. Mr.
Miles has erected some of the best buildings of the county upon the ranch.
The original owner, S. B. Miles, Sr., made his home nn this ranch for years
and gave his personal attention to its development. There was for years in
the earlier times a good store building containing an extensive stock of goods
in this vicinity, the proprietor of which was Warren Cooper.

This precinct contains a goodly supply of timber situated on the Nemaha
also a good proportion of bottom and upland. The general features are much
the same as in adjoining- townships, with a better quality and a greater (juan-
tity of building stone.

The land, for the most part, except along the water courses, was occu-
pied as homesteads under the act of Congress, and these homesteads, in all
instances have been converted into homes of substantial farmers. School

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 20"

houses have been built and schools are maintained in all the districts. The
first settlements of the precinct were made along the streams, but extended
rapidly to the high prairies or divides.

GRANT, A "DIM-MY-CRAT, AV COORSE."

There was a settlement emljracing a considerable number of families
from the Emerald Isle established in this locality. It was at this settlement
that a son of Erin was accosted on the day following the presidential election
in November, 1868, by a bearer of returns from another precinct with "How
did this preciiTct go?" Pat answered readily, "All right, to be shure." "Yes,
but what do >ou call 'all right' "? "Dim-my-cratic, av coorse." "Well, what
majority did you give?" "Ten majority for Grant, be jabers." The inter-
rogator, thinking that Patrick was getting political matters "slightly mixed,"
passed on with his returns and an jncident of the election, which he thought
would be worth repeating when he reached town.

^^ ith the completion of the railroad and the increased facilities for trans-
portation, this precinct like all others along the line of railwa}.-, received a
new impetus in its development.

The citizens looked forward with anxiety for the coming of the iron
horse and in due time their desires were realized.

SPEISER TOWNSHIP.

Speiser townshi]i is in the extreme corner of the county and is one of
the oldest townships of the county. In its earliest ])eriod it embraced almost
the west third of the present county. The lands are, many of them, very
fine ; the soil rich and well adapted- to the raising of western staples, and
especial!}- wheat and corn, of which large quantities are annually produced.

The south fork of the Nemaha with its tributaries, Easley creek. Four
Mile and other small creeks afford an ample supply of water. It, like most
of the western portion of the county is well supplied with all kinds of the
best building stone. In the earlier years a quantity of good coal was suc-
cessfully mined and supplied the farmers and the people at Humbohlt and
surrounding to\\ns with am])le fuel.

Among the earlv settlers and substantial farmers were: George Gird,
at one time county commissioner : H. Holcombe, Hon. O. P. Dunning, S. M.
Durvea, Peter and John Fankhauser, Jacob Hunzer. J. U. Hunzeker, David
Speiser, Sr., for whom the township was named, and Thomas F. Brown and

208 RICHARDSON COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

Christian Buljst. This precinct has more than kept pace with other portions
of the county in settlement and general improvement.

A large number of Germans and Swiss settled in this precinct along
Four Mile and Dry Branch and the Xemaha, and by their industry and perse-
verance have done much to develop this part of the county.

Middleburg, on the south Xemaha, was the postoffice, presided over for
many years by Uncle Jacob I'^rey, a pioneer, and where the citizens of Speiser
received their mail. The office was in later years discontinued and the place
known as 2\Iiddleburg is no more, except in name.

The people of this precinct are blessed with a number of the best of
country schools, which have always been in the hands of very competent
instructors, and where the young idea is taught to ''shoot."

Speiser has always been an important section of the county and the
people residing there have in all the years, played a leading part in the affairs
of the county.

NEMAHA PRECINCT.

It was most fitting that one of the precincts of the county should bear
the name of the great river which traverses and drains the county from one
end to the other, the Great Nemaha river, mentioned by the first white men
to explore the country, as they passed by on the Missouri and known to the
Indians for centuries before.

Ne-ma-ha is an Indian name and the word belongs to and is a part of
the language of the Omaha Indians of this state. The tribe is now on a
reservation north of the city of Omaha in this state and that city was named
in their honor.

Henry Fontenelle, a descendant of the early French Indian fur traders
and related to the Omaha tribe of Indians, in his writings of the word
Nemaha, says: "Ne-ma-ha": Name of Nemaha river, meaning "Omaha's
river." From this it would seem that the prefix "Ne" before "maha"
indicated the possessive, meaning "river of the Omahas." Whether this
trilje of Indians ever had any connection with this part of the state is more
than we are able to say, but from a perusal of the earliest maps obtainable,
always will be found the name "Xemaha" in reference to the river so well
known in Richardson county.

Nemaha is one of the best watered townships in the count\ . The S<nith
Fork of the X^emaha runs through the entire northern part of the precinct,
and Honev, Rattlesnake, Easley, and Four Mile creeks all empty into the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 2O9

Nemaha from the south. Portions of the precinct afford very fine farming
land, while some parts are rough, but all can be used for grazing. There is
an abundance of stone in this vicinity, affording cheap and desirable ijuilding
material.

In the early days a flouring and grist mill and postoffice at Well's mills,
accommodated the community of that part of the county with the staff of
life and mail facilities.

The Wells family of that precinct established the mills aliout i860 and
were among the first settlers of that locality. David Barrow was a one-time
proprietor of the mills. Hon. O. C. Jones was one of the early settlers of
that region. There was a population in 1870 of about four hundred within
the limits of the precinct, and about si.\t\- improved places or farms.

COLONIZED BY SWISS IMMIGRANTS.

The many hills, winding streams and sequestered valleys of Nemaha
and Speiser precincts proved an incentive to the rugged and honest moun-
taineers of Switzerland in the pioneer days, and many of them with their
characteristic love of freedom and industry, settled among the hills and
breaks of a wilderness between the Nemahas, where few of the native born
would have cared to undertake the task of making homes. Most of the
dauntless pioneers who first settled along the state line in these precincts
have long since passed to their reward, leaving behind to the younger gen-
eration the legacy of rich homes, nestling in sheltered valleys that would be
the envy of an old world prince.

Among the early settlers of this precinct were the Wittwer brothers,
John and Gottlieb, soon to be followed by their other brothers, Frederick,
David and Christian, and William Wrighton, who came in the late fifties.
The farm homes at that time were few and far between. Middleburg ( in
the edge of Speiser) was in full bloom as a town, with a sawmill owned
by Peter Emeigh and a store run by a Mr. Tindale. The sawmill and store
moved away and left nothing but a postoffice, which, with a town hall used
for dancing and social entertainments, remained for years. The early set-
tlers thought that the\- would always have all the range for cattle that the\
would need, but in a few years the range was fenced into well-improved
farms. Salem was the nearest town, but two or three trips each year had to
be made to St. Joseph for clothing and implements. During the year 1868
the first school district of tlie precinct as organized three miles .s(|uare, known
(14)

210 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

as district No. 70, or the "Rattlesnake District." This district has always
remained as originally laid out. The residents of this district made a "bee"
and built a log school house near its center.

A subscription was taken up for the floor, doors and windows. The
seats and desks were home-made. Charles Nelson taught the first school for
twenty dollars per month and "board around." Twenty pupils were all that
were enrolled. The first school board was composed of John Wittwer, Mr.
Rodgers and William Wrighton. In 1879 the present house was built and
furnished with all modern conveniences. The school population has grown
until there has been as many as eighty in attendance and the teacher's wages
have kept apace until fifty dollars is paid.

In 1873 a church was organized in the old log school house, that has
been well attended ever since, and during the summer of 1895 a new church,
twenty-eight by forty-five feet, was built, which is known as the Reformed
church.

It is impossible at this time to give a complete and accurate list of the
earlv Swiss pioneers of this precinct, but among those prominent and whom
we now call to mind were, besides those enumerated : M. VonBergen, Julius
Schmitt. Gottlieb, John and Fred Marmott, S. C. Duryea, John O. Stalder,
Charles Dankmeyer and Frederick Feldman.

PORTER PRECINCT.

The storv of the organization of Porter precinct is briefly told in the
following minutes copied from the record of the commissioners court :

June ist, 1861. Present: Thos. Mclntyre, C. S. Cornell and Levi
Forbes, commissioners.

The following petition was presented :

Petition.

Petition to organize and establish a Voting Precinct in Township Three
range Fourteen signed by Twenty-six voters was presented to the Board of
Commissioners, said voting place to be at the house of T. Workman and
known as "Porter Precinct." all of which was granted by the Board. —
From page 27 of Minute Book No. i of the records of the county clerk's
office of Richardson countv.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEHRASKA. 211

PRECINCT POPULATION AT DIFFERENT DATES.

1870 1880

Arago precinct, including Arago village (a) i.^45 888

Arago village 364 154

Barada precinct, including Barada village 886 1,207

Barada village 70

Falls City precinct, including Falls City village (b) 1,166 2,819

Falls City village 607 1.583

Franklin precinct 225 677

Grant precinct 515 739

Humboldt precinct, including Humboldt city 605 1,627

Humboldt city 917

Liberty precinct 506 685

Muddy precinct 408 728

Nemaha precinct 404 566

Ohio precinct 622 921

Porter precinct 219 546

Rulo precinct, including Rulo village (b) 1.326 1.418

Rulo village 611 673

Saint Stephens precinct 601 484

Salem precinct, including Salem village 681 1.035

Salem village 3^4 473

Speiser precinct 3?i^ ^^

Note. — (a) Since 1870, parts to Falls City and Rulo. (h) Since 1870,
from part of Arago.

RICHARDSON COUNTY POPULATION AT DIFFERENT DATES.

1855 1856 i860 1870 T874 1875 1876
299 532 2,385 9.780 15,000 15,000 I 1.3-7

1877 1878 1879 1880 1890 1900 19 10
12,223 12.509 13.433 15.031 16,700 19,774 17.774

MUNICIPALITIES.

Villages incorporated bv special act of Territorial Legislature from 1855
until the enactment of general incorporation laws in 1 864-69 :

212 RICItAKDSON COL-XTV, NEBRASKA.

Archer Richardson county January 25, 1856

Salem Richardson county Feljruary 10, 1857

Rulo Richardson county Xoveml)er i. 1858

St. Stephens Richardson county November 3, 1858

Arago Richardsdu county January 10. i860

Falls City Ricliardson county January 13. i860

Reference to the charters of these cities discloses the fact that authority
was jjenerally vested in the city council, consisting of a mayor and three
aldermen ; a recorder, assessor, marshal and treasurer, all electixe officers
being chosen for a term of one year, b\' the voters of the entire \illage, the
powers of these officers iieiug s]jecified in detail. The maxnr was ex-officio
police judge and the marshal, the officer of the court. The powers conferred
were regulation of health, order licensing of various business and entertain-
ments by an occupation tax, establishing of streets and alleys, and the fixing
of penalties for violation, b'unds were raised by selling at public auction by
the marshal of lots upon which delinquent taxes were due and deeds for
same were executed by the marshal or mayor. Under such charters the city
government was allowed ' to lx)rrow money for any purpose and in any
amount, when authorized to do so b\- a two-thirds majority of the legal voters
assembled in a regularly notified town meeting. (General incorporation acts
passed by the state Legislature in 1864 and 1869 made an end of the special
legislation granting municii)al charters to Nebraska cities and villages.
While succeeding .sessions of the Legislature have made many changes in
the laws, yet the early plan of reposing authority in the ma\or and council
has largely remained.

roWXSITKS I.OCATKD KOK riUI.IC .U.I.OTMENT ANO SALE.

Town. Date. .Acres.

.Salem .May 22. 1858 200

Xemaha I'alls June 23, [858 ^00.53

Geneva July 20. 1858 320

Falls City \ug. 16. 1858 320

.\rchcr l'"eb. 25. 183c) -5.>97

LIST OF row xs, crriKs .\xi) villages ix i86().

.Vanie. SectioiL Township. Range.

.\thens 17 2 X. l-:ast of 6th p. ul

.\rago 12 2 .\. i':ast of 6tb p. UL

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 213

Name. Section. Township. Range.

Archer i i X. East of 6th p. ni.

Dawson's Mill 22 2 X- East of 6th p. ni.

Elmore 20 2 X. East (if 6th p. m.

Falls City 10 i X. East of 6th p. m.

Humboldt 3 2 X'. East of 6th p. m.

Long Branch 20 3 N. East of 6th p. m.

Middleburg 25 i X. East of 6th p. m.

Miles' Ranch 33 2 X^. East of 6th p. m.

Mills I I X. East of 6th p. m.

Monond 19 2 X. Ea.st of 6th p. m.

Monterey 17 3 X. East of 6th p. m.

Nohart 34 i X. East of 6th p. m.

St. Stephens i 2 X. East of 6th p. m.

Salem 3 i X. East of 6th p. m.

Wells 31 2 X. East of 6th p. m.

Williamsville 30 3 X\ East of 6th p. m.

POPULATION OF INCORPOR.\TEI) TOWN.S.

Xame. iQio 1900 1890 1880 1870 i860

Arago 154 3^4 I93

Barada village . 118 147 70 886*

Dawson village 340 },22 153

Falls City 3.253 3,022 2,102 1,583 607 473

Franklin 2},-/

Hnmboidt city 1,176 1,218 1,114 91/ 605*

Xoraville village 93

Preston village 122 149

Rulo village 661 877 786 673 611 440

St. Stephens 6or'^ 404

Salem ,^91 533 .S04 47.i 304 ''>94

Shubert village 311 303

Speiser 394

Stella village 430 49'*^^ 399

\ erdon village 406 340 353

^■M'opulatiou of precinct or village not separated by census.

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

MUNICIPAL DEBT.

Statement showing bonded indebtedness on ist day of October, 191.

City and

\'illage.

School.

Drainage.

? 1 26, 500.00

$4,508.00

$253,000.00

POPULATION AND INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS.

The total population of Richardson county, according to the 1910 census,
is 17,448, of which 81.3 per cent is reported as rural. The density of the
population is given as twenty-six per square mile. The rural population is
uniformly distributed throughout the county. There has been a slight de-
crease in the population since 1900.

Falls City, the county seat, with a reported population of 3,255, is
located in the southeastern section at a junction of two railroads, and is
a distributing point for farm implements and supplies. Humboldt, Rulo,
Stella, Verdon, Salem, Preston, Dawson, and Shubert are other towns of
local importance. Straussville is a, railroad point. Barada and Nim City
are small inland towns.

Richardson county is well supplied with railroads, few points being-
more than nine miles from a railroad station, except in the northeastern
part of the county, where the greatest distance is about thirteen miles. The
Missouri Pacific (Omaha and Kansas City line), crosses the county from
north to south, giving direct connections with Omaha and Kansas City. The
main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy from Denver to Kansas
City crosses from east to west, and gives direct access to the markets of
Lincoln, Denver, and Kansas City. The Nebraska City line of the same
system extends northward from Salem and terminates at Nebraska City.
From Rulo the Atchison and Rulo branch extends southeastward into Kan-
sas. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (Horton branch) tnuches the
extreme southwestern corner of the county.

There are many excellent graded roads through the county, including
the Omaha-Kansas City highway. Most of the roads follow section or
land lines. All the roads are of earth, and little attention is given to the
minor roads. The more important highways are dragged as .soon as the
ground permits after each train. There are no toll roads.

Kansas City. St. Joseph, and Omaha constitute the principal markets

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 21 5

for the county. Some dairy products are shipped to Lincohi. Most of the

cattle are shipped to St. Joseph and Kansas City, and some to Omaha. In

the local towns there is a small demand for dairy products, berries, and
vegetables.

Rural mail delivery and telephone lines reach practically all parts of
the county. Most of the public schools are well kept, and are accessible
to all communities.

CHAPTER IX.
Incorporation of Towns and Precincts.

WINNEBAGO.

Taken from mintues of board of county commissioners of Richardson
county, Xebraska Territory, special term, August i6, 1858:

"Xow comes into open court H. Conklin, David W. Thomas, Lafayette
Spears, H. I. Vandal and twenty-three others citizens of the town of Winne-
bago in said county and present their petition praying for the incorpora-
tion of said town and that a police be established for their regulation and
go\erament under the name and style of the Town of Winnebago which
petition is in the following words towit :

"To the Honorable the County Commissioners of Richardson County,
X'ebraska Territory.

"The undersigned petitioners residents and taxables of the town of
Winnebago, Richardson county, N. T. respectfully represent that the said
town is located on the west bank of the Missouri river in said county of
Richardson that the said Town has been well and accurately surveyed and
the lots, streets, alleys, be named numbered and marked and staked off
according to law and that the plat of the official survey duly certified and
acknowledged is a correct representation of the said town. A number of
buildings in the said town have been completed and are now occupied by
bonified settlers therein, and others are now in prospect of erection. We
therefore pray that the town may be incorporated and a police established
for the government and regulation thereof and they will pray, etc.

"(Signed.) H. Conklin, Da\id W. Thomas, Lafayette Spears and
others."

PETITION GRANTED.

"The court Ijeing satisfied that a majority of the taxable inhabitants
of said town ha\e signed said petition it is therefore ordered ami declared
by said court that all the territory within the geographical limits of said

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 21 J

town as sliown and tlesignated 1j\' said plat of said town be and the same
is declared a town by the name and style of the town of Winnebago; that
said town is made a body corporate and politic and is vested with all the
powers and attributes of a municipal corporation under and by virtue by
an act of a legislative assembly of the 'i^rritory of Nebraska, approved
January 25th, 1856, and it is further ordered by the court that Joseph Pecotte,
Paul Pecotte, Levi Dodge, Lewis Philips and Bruno Connoyer Ije and
are hereby appointed Trustees to Organize the First Municipal Government
for said town and to hold said office under their successors are elected and
qualified."

HUMBOLDT PRECINCT.

The first mention found in the records of the county commissioners
about that tract of land now comprising what is known as Humboldt town-
ship was in a petition presented to a meeting of the commissioners by O. J.
Tinker, at their meeting in April, 1858, which was as follows:

"A petition was presented signed by O. J. Tinker and Thirty-Three
others praying that a precinct be formed and established composed of tlie
following territory to-wit :

"Township No. 3 and the North 14 of Town 2, North of Range 13
East and Township 3 North of Range 14 East, and that Beneilict AIc.\tlee
be appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace aiid A. B. Young and
Daniel Shadley be appointed Constables in said Precinct. Ordered that said
Precinct be thus established and certificates of appointment and commis-
sion be issued in accordance with said petition." No name was mentioned
for said precinct.

ST. STEPHENS PRECINCT.

On Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock on .\pril 6, 1858. the county commis-
sioners received the following petition :

"A petition was presented signed b>- William R. Cain and Thirty-
Eight others praying for the establishment of a voting precinct with St.
Stephen for the voting ground. Ordered that St. Stephen Precinct Xo. 5
be established with the following boundaries to-wit:

"Beginning at a point on the Missouri River where the North line
of Richardson county intersects the same; Thence west along said line to the
N. W. corner (^f Township No. 3 North of Range No. 17 E. Thence

2l8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

South along the Hne dividing Ranges 17 & 16 to the South west corner of
Section No. 18 in Township No. 2 N. of Range No. 17 E. Thence east
along said section line to the Missouri river; Thence up the middle of the
main channel of the Missouri river to the place of beginning; and that St.
Stephen be made the place of voting therein. It is further ordered that
John McFarland be appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace and
Henry R. Price be appointed to the office of Constable for said Precinct."

From records of county commissioners in session at Saleiu. Nebraska
Territory — Tuesday morning, 9 o'clock, July 6, 1858:

The Honorable the County Court met pursuant to adjournment, Arnett
Roberts and Joseph Yount present and acting Commissioners.

Incorporation of the town of Geneva. Now comes into open court
Joseph Embody, Henry Hill, I. W. Davis and others of the Town of
Geneva in said county and file their petition to be incorporated under the
name and style of the Town of Gene\a, which petition reads in the words
following :

"We the undersigiied citizens and petitioners of the Town of Geneva
pray that our Honorable Commissioners of the County of Richardson that
we may be corporated and a place established for their local government.
We wish to be incorporated by the name of Geneva. Geneva is situated
on the Northeast Quarter of Section 22 and the Southwest Quarter of
Section No. 15, Township No. 2 Range No. 15 East of the 6th Principal
Meridian, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory.

"(Signed) Joseph Embody, Henry Hill, I. A\'. Davis, and others."

The prayer of the petitioners was immediately granted, vested with all
the powers under and b}' virtue of an act of the Legislature of the Territory
of Nebraska, apporved January 25, 1856, and the following were appointed
as trustees of the village : Joseph Embody, Henry Hill, Francis M. May.
I. W. Davis and Henry Pilcher, to serve until their successors were duly
elected and qualified.

NEMAHA FALLS.

From records of commissioners of Richardson county, Nebraska Ter-
ritory, in session at Salem, June 7, 1858:

June Term County Court. June 7th, 1838.

"At a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Rich-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 2I9

ardson County, Nebraska Territory, being held at the usual place of holding
court in the Town of Salem, on Monday the /th day of June A. D. 1858,
Present Joseph Yount and Arnett Roberts, Commissioners.

"Being a petition constitution presented for the Town of Nemaha Falls.
Now come in open court. A. I. Deshozo, E. Hamilton. S. T. E. Willis, A. W.
Barnes, Henry Warnecke, I. Hamilton and others of the town of Nemaha
Falls in said county, prayer of their petition to be incorporated under the
name and style of the Town of Nemaha Falls."

RULO PRECINCT.

From minutes of the board of county commissioners meeting at Salem,
Nebraska Territory, April 6, 1858:

"Ordered that the Boundaries of Rulo Precinct Number Four be estab-
lished as Follows : Beginning at a Point on the Missouri River where the
section line dividing Sections 18 and 19 in Township No. 2 North of
Range No. 18 intersects the same; thence west along said line to the center
of Township No. 2, North of Range No. 17 E. Thence South along the
section line to the Great Nemaha River ; Thence down the main channel of the
Great Nemaha river to the Missouri river; Thence up the middle of tlie
main channel of the Missouri river to the place of beginning, and that tlie
town of Rulo be the voting place therein."

ARCHER FIRST COUNTY SE.\T OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.

In almost every new county opened for settlement there are organized
many new towns which, in the minds of the promoters, are destined to
become famous. There are usually multitudes of reasons why each town
should become a metropolis, but these reasons are usually apparent only to
the minds of the promoters.

.\rcher, our first county seat, was the most important of such little
towns in the early days of this county. That it did not prosper and remain
the county seat is due not so much to lack of interest on the part of the people
or to the purely visionary qualifications as seen by the promoters, as to the
Territorial Legislature which, in granting the land for a townsite, located
it upon what was thought to be the Half-Breed Indian Reservation.

Early in 1855 a grant for a county-seat townsite was secured through
the efl'orts of Col. Neil J. Sharp, who had been elected to the Legislature at
the first election held in the territory. December 12, 1855. This tract was

220 RICHARDSON COCXTV, NEBRASKA.

on the east side of the .Miuldy, about three and one-half miles northeast of
the present site of Falls City, in section Xo. 36, township No. 2, north of
range No. 16, in what is now known as Ohio township, and from the town-
site Falls City is easily visible. In the summer of 1855 a townsite company
was organized. Among those taking an active part in starting the new town
were John C. Miller, the father of Mrs. Margaret Maddox, at present (191 /J
a resident of Falls City; Colonel Sharp. AM D. Kirk, Huston Xuckols,
Ambrose Shellcx- and Robert Archer, for whom the town was named. The
affairs of the count} were then in the hands of county officers appointed by
Acting-Governor Cuming during the previous winter and the offices were
purely nominal. The first county election was held in Xovember, 1855, when
John C. Miller was elected probate judge: Col. Neil J'. Sharp, clerk and reg-
ister of deeds : M G. McMullin, sheriff, and, it is believed, Ambrose Shelley,
or Isaac Crook, as treasurer.

GRETNA GREEN OF KANS.A.S.

Wilson AL Maddox and Margaret A. Miller, the daughter of Judge John
C. Miller, were the first couple married after the county seat was established
at Archer, and the thirtl couple to be married in the county. Licenses were
not required then, but marriages were recorded by the clerk and certificates
issued by the judge and officiating minister, if one was present. The counts-
seat became the Gretna Green of Kansas couples, where a license and age
limit were not observed. For a few years the present age limit and license
were not required in this territory.

The little village seemed to thri\e wonderfull\- for a new town in a
sparsely settled country and all went well until early in January, 1856. when
it became known that I)}- \irtue of an early treaty the town was on the half-
breed lands. This treaty was made in 1840. when the Omahas, Otoes and
lowas, who also represented the Santie and Yankton bands of Sioux, asked
that a tract of land be set aside for their half-breeds or mixed-bloods. Will-
iam Clark, superintendent of Indian affairs and Willoughby Morgan acted
for the government, .\mong the rivers designated in this treaty as bound-
aries of the half-breed lands are the Big or Great Ne-mo-haw and Little
Xe-mo-haw, which afterwards become known as the Nemahas. \\'hat a pity
the old Indian names and their true meanings could not lie retained.

The first survey, which pmved incorrect, did not include Archer. Init
liefore it wa^^ hardl)- lucated. a new line was run and though it added little to
the half-breed lands, it took in the townsite. It was the death warrant of

, RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 221

tlie county scat, though numerous efforts were made to save it. Aljel D.
Kirk, prominent here at that time, was sent to Washington, D. C. but his
efforts were of no avail. 1 1on. KUner S. Dundy, then a young man without
money or renown, Init with unliounded ambition, had settled at Archer and
took up the light for the villagers and settlers, whose claims laid in the con-
demnefl tract. He entered into an agreement with them that for two per
cent of the assessed \alue of their property he would go to Washington and
tr\- to save their lands. Right well, too, did he plead their cause, for he suc-
ceeded in getting an act through Congress by which the settlers were per-
mitted to retain the lands they had started to improve. Tn many cases the
settlers would have been better off fmanciall)- to have let their claims revert
to the government, moved their buildings and taken other claims; but most
of the people had a horror of getting away from the river and the timljer
along its banks, out upon the open prairie.

JUDC.E DUNDY.

It might truthfull) be stated that right here was where Judge Dundy
laitl the foundation of his success of later years. When he landed at Archer
his sole possessions were die clothes on his l)ack; a limited — very limited —
nun-.ber of law books in a "satchel", and a fiddle. Clients were few, fees
fewer and small, when they could be collected at all, and Dundy's only equip-
ments for life at that time were, a fine education, a cheerful disposition,
coupled with a keen sense of humor, faith in tlie new country, amljition to
succeed, assets that did not balance well against dollars when pay-day rolled
around — but the stuff that makes a man.

Judge Dundy w^as in every sense a social favorite in the settlement.
Alanv a dance at the hotel in Archer was arranged by him and he seemed
happiest when doing the fiddling. At every social gathering, Dundy, the
future federal judge at Omaha, and his fiddle were on hand. He is remem-
bered in later years as a white-haired but distinguished old man. still fiddling,
alwavs coming down with his heel to mark the time and was watched with
as much admiration perhaps as are the noted violinists of the present day.

Hut, back to .Archer. As soon as it became evident that the townsite
a.uM not be saved, many other towns were started. Falls City was backed
bv most of the Archer residents and many buildings were moved there from
the old town. The house now owned by I'" red Keller, at the corner of
Xineteenth and Stone streets in block No. 2j. was a two-story house built

222 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and owned by the Goldsberrys at Archer. Perhaps there were others, but
they were destroyed by earh-day fires.

Rulo became prominent because of river advantages; Salem, because of
its central location and because in the meantime several settlers, considered
wealthy in those days, had located there. All the new towns wanted the
county seat and the contest which finally settled between Falls City and Salem
was long and bitter, extending over a period of nearly seventeen years, result-
ing in an enmity which has never been entirely overcome in many instances.

Considerable time elapsed before Archer was entirely extinct. Event-
ually, all the town lots and adjoining land were bought up by Wilson M.
Maddox and Ijecame a part of the old Maddox farm across the Muddy, now
owned by Benjamin Poteet.

The old Archer cemetery still exists, though the remains of the first set-
tlers who were buried there, have in many cases been removed to other ceme-
teries. But many were left and the old-time headstones mark not only
the graves of the loved ones, pioneers young and old, but the graves of hopes
and ambitions and the grave of the first county seat of Richardson county.

INCORPORATION OF ARCHER.

The following petition bearing the date of January 19, 1859, was pre-
sented to the county commissioners at Salem, and the following copy of same
is taken from the minutes of the board :

"To the Honorable the County Commissioners of Richardson County.

"Your Petitioners, residents and legal voters of the town of Archer, Rich-
ardson County, respectfully pray your Honorable body to Incorporate the
said Town of Archer and appoint Five Trustees to form and constitute the
corporate authorities of the said town under and by Notice of the statute
in such cases made and provided and they will pray.

Archer, 19th January, 1859.

"E. S. Dundy, D. F. Thompson, Jolin P. W'elty. J. C. Miller. John S.
Skaggs, Michael Skaggs."

The prayer of the petition was granted by the board on January 27, 1859.

The plat of Archer was filed for record on July 4, 1855. The streets
were named for the founders of the town, Trammel, \\'^hite. Miller, Sharpe,
Shelley, Kirk, Hare, Crook, and Howard. There were one hundred blocks
in the town with an open square in center for court house.

The following taken from pages 50 to 53 of "Deed Record." .\. B,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

223

and D, in the register of deeds office of Richardson county, shows recorded
plat of Archer as follows :

Plat of Archer, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory, 1855.
"We the undersigned proprietors of the Town of Archer, Richardson
County, Nebraska Territory, have caused to be surveyed and platted the town
of Archer and have set apart the claim upon which the same is located for
that purpose with lots, streets and alleys with out lots and reservations as
designated upon the within platte. July 4th, 1855."

A. D. Kirk,
John C. Miller,
Ambrose Shelley,
N. J. Sharp.

Territory of Nebraska, County of Richardson, ss.

On the loth day of July personally appeared before me Ambrose Shelley,
A. D. Kirk, John C. Miller, and N. J. Sharp known to me to be the identical
persons whose names appear to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged
the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the purpose therein set
forth.

William Trammel, Justice of the Peace.

Territory of Nebraska, County of Richardson, ss.

I, Christian Bobst hereby certify that I have examined the within sur-
vey and platte of the town of Archer and believing that the requirements
of the law has been substantially complied with by the owners of the claim
upon which the same is located do hereby direct the same to be placed upon
record.

Christian Bobst, Judge of Probate.
July loth, A. D. 1855.

All lots are 132 feet Nortli & South by 66 feet East and West. Out
lots show their own size. All streets are 66 feet wide except Hickory and
Sharp which are 99 feet wide. All alleys are i6i/< feet wide. Lots on the
East and West side of the Square are reserved but are the same size of
others. All lines are run east and west and North and South at a varia-
tion north 10', 30" East. I hereby certify that the within platte of the Town
of Archer is surveyed as thereon set forth and that the same is correct with
the exceptions of a few Blocks. July 9th, 1855.

N. J. Sharp, Surveyor.

224 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

.\ line in Block jf) shows the original purchase. Approved and filed the
loth day of July, A. D. 1855.

C. BoBST, Judge of Probate.
I'^iled for recortl the 10th day of July, 1855.

X. J. Sharp, Register of Deeds.
Taken from page 6 of "Deed Record," A, B and D of records of regis-
ter of deeds office, Richardson county.

Ambrose Shelley, et al., to Town of Archer.
Assignment.

Articles of association Archer Townsite Company made and entered into
the 14th day of June A. D., 1855, by and between Ambrose Shelley, John
C. Miller, A. D. Kirk, and N. J. Sharp, all of the County of Richardson.
Territory of Nebraska, the object and purpose of this association is and shall
be to purchase claims for the purpose of establishing the Town of Archer,
the Seat of Justice, for the County of Richardson, Nebraska Territory, and
deal in town lots and lands, in said county. The said Town of Archer is
to be Located upon the prairie tract of land at a stake about 30 rods East
of the South East Corner of a Piece of Brakeing or plowed land extending
80 rods South, east North and west to be 160 rods square said stake being
in the center which is together with the remainder the claim now occupied
by the said Shelley and known as the M inter Claim and the claim now owned
by P. Pollard embracing the mill site near the Indian Ford and Stone Druary
(320) acres on the Muddy Creek the whole containing (600) acres with
the improvements thereon are hereby conveyed by the said Shelley to the
said company for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred and fifty
dollars which sum is to be paid as per agreement.

Ambrose Shelley.
(Signed) John C. Miller.
A. D. Kirk.
N. J. Sharp.
Recorded July 2nd, 1855.

County Commissioners met according to law, November 24, 1856. the
whole Board being present and the following business was transacted. Viz :
Account of Jacob Cofifman for acting as Clerk of election McMahan's Precinct
at the November election of 1856 allowed. $1.50.

C. McDonald Acct. for acting as Clerk of Election in Pawnee County
at the -Vugust election of 1856 — allowed. $1.50.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 225

N. J. Sharp for extra services rendered as Register of Deeds for tlie
years 1855 and 1856 allowed, $50.00.
Court Adjourned.

F. L. GOLDSBURY, Clk.

The County Commissioners met according to law. January 5th. 1857, the
whole Board being present. The following business was transacted : Peti-
tion of Citizens of McMahan's Precinct for the Appointment of a Justice
of the Peace for said Precinct and recommended J. N. Johnson be appointed.

J. N. Johnson was appointed. Justice of the Peace for McMahan's Pre-
cinct. Account of F. L. Goldsbury presented and allowed for Canvassing
election Pawnee County August 25th, 1856. $1.50.

Acct. of G. W. Miller, allowed $3.15.

Acct. of J. P. Weltz, allowed $1.50.

The oath of Office was administered to J. N. Johnson.

F. L. Goldsbury, County Clerk.

FIRST MEETING AT SALEM OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

Salem, N. T., April 6th, 1857.
County Commissioners did not appear e.xcept Arnett Roberts, nothing
done. Adjourned till Court in Course.

F. L. Goldsbury, County Clerk.

A VISIT TO ARCHER.
By Isham Reavis.

On a bright Sunday afternoon last summer, 18 — , while John W. Dor-
rington, of Yuma, Arizona, an old-timer in Falls City, was here on a visit.
he proposed that we go out to Archer, that is to say, where it once stood,
and take a look at the old place. It was agreed and we went. There
were four of us; three have seen the town in its decadency, the other had
seen only its abandoned site, and the cemetery over the ravine to the north,
in which many of its early settlers lie buried. There is nothing in the pros-
pect suggestive of the fact that a town of three hundred people or more ever
stood there or that it had ever been anything but the cornfield it now is.

The cemetery mentioned is now Archer; the once living \illage has
vanished, and is but a memory.

Most people have an unexplainable desire to visit a graveyard, and tlie
(T5)

226 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

party that went over on that beautiful Sunday afternoon were no exception
to the rule.

I had in mind the fear that the place might have been neglected and
become overgrown with weeds and underbrush. Such things happen some-
times to these places, especially where they are isolated from a town and
left for whoever may be willing, to give them attention and care. In this
case I was agreeably disappointed in my expectations.

We found the cemetery in good presentable order, finely located on
grounds gently sloping to the west and south, with a thick covering of
grass over which the lawn mower had recently passed : there was no sign
of neglect anywhere, but just the reverse.

What interested me most was the community of the dead who lie buried
there. Some have been there — two to my knowledge — for more than half
a century. Dr. B. S. Hutchins was one, McMullen the other. Doctor
Hutchins died in the summer or fall of 1858. I never met him but once, and
then I knew he was going slowly down to his grave, with that fell disease,
consumption. He left a little daughter, ten or eleven years old. who grew
to womanhood in the county and is with us yet, the wife of our respected
townsman, F. M. Harlow.

Passing from one gravestone to another, I found that I had known
all those people when in life, and I regret to say, though I have lived in
the near vicinity of this out-of-the-way God's acre for more than fifty
years, that was my first visit to it. It was like a revival of old acquaintance,
going among those silent heralils, each announcing the resting-place of some-
one I had known in the days of yore : each one of them as I read the names
of the gravestones, w^as present to my mental \isi()n, as I last saw him or
her in life, and the time in which they lived.

W'ith Judge Miller and Doctor Hutchins, I saw the spreading, vacant
prairie again, and the crumbling town they helped to build. The old, van-
ished life and surroundings came back td me like ghnstly xisitations, and
so with all the others.

.\ little to the west on the south side of die creek, is the old camp
meeting ground, where the pious Alethodists of Archer and surrounding
countrv used to repair exery \ear to worship God in one of His first temples,
according to the poet, a ijeautiful grove of }Oung timber, but that, too, is
gone. Without the grove the camping ground could not be located, or at
least we could not do it, and so that, with the shadowy congregation that
worshipped there in the long ago, have become mere misty and confused
memorx".

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

227

We finally stood on the spot wliere the town once was. A plowshare
had passed over it and in all the wide expanse about us, there was nothing
that even whispered of the times when a bustling and energetic people li\ed
there, except the graves of some of their dead.

But what of the others of the three hundred or more ( and that was a
considerable population for a town in those days), who inhabited, hoped,
and wrought here? Gone, in their several and restless wanderings about
the world and out of it, with only the two ladies I ha\e mentioned above,
remaining. The story of Archer is both pathetic and tragic.

TOWN OF STELLA.
By Miss Eunice Haskii

Ancient history of Stella chronicles that the town had its beginning
when, in August, 1881, a public meeting was held at the Muddy school
house in the Tynan- Vandeventer district, where farmers of this locality
and business men from Falls City discussed the proposition of trying to
get a railroad and locate a new town at this point. A proposition was
submitted to the Missouri Pacific Company and a few weeks later the pre-
liminary survey for a road to run from Hiawatha to Omaha was made.
Grading was begun September 6, and finished as far as Stella, November
25. The next month the track was laid and a switch put in. On Saturday.
January 7. 1882, the station building was raised. From a mere switch
Stella began to spread out, and in the fall of the same year there were
twenty-five business firms in the new town. One thing necessary to the
existence of the place was a postoffice and this was moved bodily to Stella
from Dorrington, a star route office which stood on the corners one and
a half miles west.

The first house erected in Stella belonged to D(ictor Livingston and
occupied a prominent position in the middle of what is now Alain street.
It was first built near the present site of the Lutheran church, hut when
the streets were laid out it was moved south onto a lot near the Christian
church. The house was struck by lightning and burned in April, 1S8-'. .Mrs.
Livingston was killed by the same bolt.

The pioneer merchants of Stella were Moore & Higgins, Graham &
l^aslev and Hull & Coldren. John Higgins started the creamery and Xutter
& Knapp were the first stock buyers, Metzger & Fisher the first millers.

228 " RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Nearly all the first stores were located on Second street, which runs south
of the lumber yard, but as the town grew it became evident that Main
street, which runs lengthwise of the ridge on which the town is built, was
a much better location for business houses, and the first merchants either
moved their buildings or built new ones on that street.

The village of Stella was incorporated in 1882 and the first village
board consisted of L. G. Ciphers, chairman ; A. Graham, Sol. Jameson,
John Higgins and G. M. Gates. C. M. Shepherd was clerk and George
Smith, marshal, all of whom are dead or moved away long ago. Mr. Gates
entered the ministry; he resides at University Place, and the past two years
has preached at the Methodist church in Stella, on alternate Sundays.

Tlie school district was organized in October, 1882. H. D. Weller
was moderator; T. W. Moore, director; L. F. Quint, treasurer. Like the
village officers, all are dead, or moved away. The first settlers in the town
sent their children to the country to attend Muddy school in the Tynan-
\'andeventer district, but in those days the Muddy school building was
nearer town than now — located near the J. L. Hay's home, where D. S. Hinds
now lives.

THE FIRST SCHOOL IN STELLA.

The first school in Stella was begun in July. 1884, in the Ferguson
& Coldren hall, and continued with but one week's vacation until the next
June. This hall was then located on the corner, east of the lumber yard.
Later, it was moved to Main street, on the corner north of J^Iartin's store,
and there it was burned with several other buildings in the spring of 1908.
The wife of the Rev. G. M. Gates was the first teacher.

.\ school house was built in 1884, on the hill east of town, on the site
now occupied by C. M. Harrison's bungalow. This school building burned
in the spring of 1889, and the remaining six weeks of the term were taught
Ijy the principal and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Lawson, as a private
school in the Christian church.

.\. new building was erected on the site of the burned building, and
school opened in it in November, 1889. In 1898, the school became so
crowded that more space was necessary, and a school building was erected
for the primary department. In 1914 this school building was converted
into a residence by .\lfred Shellenbarger.

In June, 191 3, bonds were voted for a new building, and earl\- in
T914, it was readv for occupancy, and "the bell on the hill" called fi>r the
last time. The new school building is modem, and with equipment and

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 229

campus, has an approximate valuation of $20,000. The location is at the
north end of Main street. Seven teachers are employed for the twelve
grades. R. A. Clark is president of the school board; ]\Irs. I. L. Callison,
secretary, and E. C. Roberts, treasurer. The other membe*-,. are Mrs. Fred
Gilbert, J. F. Folly and J. F. Weddle. Graduates of the school have reorgan-
ized the alumni, and are endeavoring to build a strong society.

THE FIRST CHURCH IN STELLA.

The Baptist church at Prairie Union was the first religious organiza-
tion in this part of the county. It was organized March 3, 1867. Within
the corporation of Stella the Methodists are the oldest organization and
they began the erection of their church in October, 1882. The edifice was
dedicated on Sunday, August 26, 1883, and the first pastor was Rev. G. W.
Southwell. The next denomination to establish a church in Stella was the
Christian, whose building was dedicated November 25, 1883. The church
was organized by Rev. R. C. Barrow, state evangelist. The Lutherans
organized their church here in March, 1884, and the first minister was Rev.
J. Vy. Kimmel. The Baptist church of Stella, was organized on March
19, 1891. This church is modern in its construction, and on July 15, 1917,
held dedicatory services for the completion of a new modern basement under
the entire building. The Lutheran and Methodist churches each have par-
sonages.

The first flouring-mills were built in 1882 and were owned and operated
by Metzger & Fisher. In 1887 the Metzger & Clark mill burned, a loss
that was a great blow not only to the owners but to the community. .V
new mill was built, however, with the finest of improved machinery and in
1896 this, too, was burned. Jameson Brothers and the Clarks were among
those interested in this mill.

The first elevator in Stella was erected by JamesiMi Brothers in 1882,
and for five years they merely bought and sold grain. In 1888 they enlarged
their plant by adding machinery' for making corn meal. On April 30, 1889,
their plant was destroyed by fire, but they rebuilt immediately on the same
site and moved into their new quarters in July, 1889. Three years later
this mill was sold to the Stella Grain Company and was run as a Farmers
Mutual Elevator for two years.

Then, Jameson Brothers went into a stock company known as the
Stella Corn Meal Mills, and a six-hundred-barrel mill was built at a cost
of $11,000. This mill (burned in 1896), was closed on account of the

230 RICHARDSOX COfXTV, NEBRASKA.

depression of Inisiness in 1894, and Jameson Brodiers leased tlieir former
building from the Stella Grain Company, and operated it until they built
a flour and cnrn meal mill in 1899. This new mill had a capacity of three
hundred barrels, and cost $8,000. About 1902, Jameson Brothers dissolved
]jartnership. The mill was dismantled about 1905, and part of the ma-
chinery shipjied away. Henry Brenner is now the owner of the building,
which he uses fi)r a grain elevator, and which also houses the electric light
plant. John .\. Mayer owns and manages the other grain elevator in Stella.
In iHHj. Stella boasted a waterworks. A reservoir was Iniilt on Main
street, where now stands the Baptist church. Pipes were laid and water
was served to patrons of the works. The old creamery building on the hill
east of town, once did a flourishing business here. It finallv passed out of
usefulness for lack of an active manager.

DISASTROfS KIRKS.

Fire, at dift'erent times, has wrought great destruction in the business
part of Stella. In 1888, several buildings were burned on the corner where
The Press ofiice now stands. Ten years afterward several buildings on the
solid business blocks on the west side of Main street were burned, and in
1903 almost all the east side went up in one smoke.

Stella has a good opera house, erected in 1898 by a stock company —
now owned by R. .\. Clark and managed by A. E. CambUn. The Stella
Telephone Company was organized in 1899, ''^"'^' ser\-es both Stella and
Shubert, with a central station at each town. The lines of the company
extend east as far as the Missouri river. In all, about .seven hundred patrons
are served.

About i8gy, an electric light, heat and in)wer company was granted a
franchise. In 1907, John H. Brenner ol)tained this franchise, installed a
plant, and in the spring of 1908 Stella was electric lighted. In a few years
transmission lines were built and Shubert supplied with current fron> Stella.
In March, 1916, an accident happened to some of the machinery at the light
plant, and the Ihenners <lid not care to go to the e.xi)ense of replacing it.
In the fall, they dispo.sed of their plant to the Nebraska Cas and I-'lectric
Com[)any. of Cle\e!and. ( )hio, with \\'estern headquarters at Omaha. By
January, \')\J. the new owners had rehabilitated the plant and again Stella
and Shubert l>ecanie electric lighted.

Stella has .s])lendi(] sidewalks of brick or cement. bVom the new school
building, or the home of U. .\. I'lark. in the extreme north part of the

RICHARDSON COUNTTY, NEBRASKA. 23I

town, to the Stella cemetery gate, a mile awav, there is a continuous walk
of brick or cement. The cement walk from town to the Stella cemetery,
with a bridge of cement and iron across the little stream in the east part
of town, is one of the big achievements of the community within the past
few years, at a cost of considerably more than a thousand dollars.

At the time this history is written, July, 191 7. Stella and vicinity are
actively engaged in Red Cross work, and nearly two thousand dollars in
money has been subscribed. The officers of the Stella Red Cross auxiliary
are R. A. Clark, president; Dick Curtis, vice-president: ]\Iiss Lucile Harris,
secretary, and J- M. Wright, treasurer.

THE RESEARCH CLUB.

The Ladies' Research Club, organized March 13, 1896, has taken a
leading part and has been a tremendous force for good in the community
for more than twenty years. This club has far outgrown the original pur-
pose of organization, which was to study history and literature. The club
has earned money in various ways to be used for public purposes, such
as the improvement of the city park. Mrs. A. W. Montgomery is president.

The Ladies' Auxiliary of the Stella Cemetery Association has done
nobly during the ten years of its existence. During that time the Stella
cem.etery has been changed from an unkept place to a thing of beauty ;
various improvements and conveniences added to the cemetery: strong,
attractive front entrance gates built, and the cement walk with bridge,
made between town and cemetery. Mrs. Angeline Raper is president. Each
of the four churches has strong, active women's societies, each doing a
good work. Various lodges and other societies flourish in the town. The
Stella orchestra gives its services free to play whenever the occasion demands.

Stella has been a good business town, from the very beginning. The
town and railroad were badly needed by the farmers, and that gave the
place a good start. J. W. Clark, of Covington, Kentucky, was the father
of Stella. The town is named for a daughter. Stella, who is dead; and the
Florence hotel, which he built here when the town fir.st started, was named
for another daughter, also dead.

In 1857, treaties were concluded with the Indians which enabled the
government to sell the land, and by attending these sales Mr. Clark obtained
titles to numerous tracts in this vicinity. He himself never lived here, but
after the town started he sent his son, H. E. Clark, to Stella to look after his
interests. H. E. Clark moved to Kansas City in 1904, and since then his

232 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

brother, R. A. Clark, is the onh' member of the family residing in Stella.
J. W. Clark passed away eighteen years ago.

The original townsite of Stella comprised forty acres. It was four
blocks square, extending from the street south of the Christian church to
the street north of the Lutheran church. The boundaries on the east and
west were the same then as now.

TWO STRONG BANKS.

Stella has two strong banks, The Bank of Stella, owned by Hull and
Ferguson, and the State Bank of Stella, at that time owned by Sweet
Brothers, were purchased by J. R. Cain for a corporation, and both merged
into the present State Bank of Stella in January, 1886. The incorporators
were Sol Jameson, J. L. Slocum, George W. Holland, B. R. Williams, J.
R. Cain and Charles Metz. Mr. Cain is still connected with the bank.
He is the president, and is assisted by E. C. Roberts, as cashier and H.
V. Davis, as assistant cashier.

The Farmers State Bank was organized with fourteen stockholders in
the fall of 191 5, and opened for business in January, 1916. I. L. Plasters
is president; George W. Lambert, vice-president, and J. M. Wright, cashier.
The directors are I. L. Plasters. G. W. Lambert. C. A. Larimore, John
Sayer and J F. Shubert.

The Stella Press was started by Gird Brothers in August, 1882. The
paper changed names a time or two. and had eleven differeent editors during
the first twenty years of its existence. For fifteen years the Stella Press
has been owned and edited and published by Clyde G. Haskins and Miss
Eunice Haskins. The Press had strenuous times until alxiut twenty years
ago, and for a while had to battle for existence with other papers in the
field.

PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN.

Three physicians are located at Stella at the present time: Dr. G. -M.
Andrews, Dr. A. \\\ Montgomery and Dr. George Egermayer. Dr. I. L.
Callison and Dr. E. W. James are the dentists. Dr. J. H. Brey is the veterin-
arian. .\. J. Baldwin and L. R. Chaney are engaged in the real-estate and in-
surance business. E. E. Marr is agent for the Missouri Pacific, and H. T.
Wilson is postmaster. Miss Mabel James has the millinery store, and W.
K. Knight, of Falls City, kcejis his Stella photographer's studio open on
Monday.

HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. STELLA.

^ :m^ :M ...

it3fe.i

11 m

RESIDENCE STUEET. STELLA.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 233

The Hays lumber yard is managed by Neil Duncan. J. \\'. Curtis, Jr.,
does the town draying, and Amil Moritz keeps the livery stable. John S.
Mann runs the harness shop, as he did in the beginning of things at Stella.
H. C. Frankell sells implements and automobiles, and J. M. Goodloe, in
his garage, and Stine & Freed, in their blacksmith shop, do repair work.

D. C. Allen keeps busy making walks and doing other cement work.

Dishman & TomHnson dispense drugs at the Rexall store ; J. F. Weddle
sells hardware, furniture and implements; C. M. Byrd manages the Farmers
Union Store; J. S. Kimsey is owner of the city meat market and sells ice;
H. W. Wolf still keeps his carpenter shop open; Marion C. Marts does a
big business at his poultry station; W. K. Frankel stays at his jewelry store
when he is not papering and painting; J. M. Loney and E. B. McCann
run the restaurants; E. C. \^erhune and Guy Dodson are the barbers; G.

E. Hansen sells dry goods and groceries ; Joe Wagner is the live stock
dealer. Esburn Wheeler and Ira H. Martin have the big general stores in
Stella. Mr. Wheeler's store is a department business, with a balcony for
furniture and undertaking. Mr. Martin is conducting the business founded
by his uncle, the late W. H. Hogrefe, soon after the town started.

Stella has a splendid modern hotel, centrally located on Main street —
"The Overman,'' built in 1904, by J. H. Overman, the proprietor.

Stella is an ideal small town — clean, well kept and pretty; a good place
in which to live, and to trade; a good market for live stock and grain; near
to the big markets of the west — Kansas City, St. Joseph and Omaha; on
the main line of the Missouri Pacific railway, with good shipping facilities
and good passenger service. It has good schools and good churches: a
healthy place, with good water, situated on a hill rising from the valley of
Muddy creek, where the boys go swimming in summer, and where they
skate and ice is cut in winter. On the route covered by three great automo-
bile highways — the Scenic, between Omaha and Kansas City; the George
Washington, between Savannah, Georgia, and Seattle, Washington, and the
King of Trails between Galveston, Texas and Winnipeg, Canada. Truly,
the people of Stella live in a community that is wonderfully blessed.

,AGE OF SALEM.

The site for the village was chosen by J. C. Lincoln, Thomas Hare and
J. W. Roberts oli the 30th day of January, 1855, and a plat of the original
town may still be found in the first record kept b)- the county commissioners.

234 RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

where it was recurded. West Salem, which was an addition to the original
town, was laid out to the west on May 14th, 1857, and is now well built up.
The latter addition was surveyed by Joseph B. Nickle and was the property
of Charles McDonald and J. C. Lincoln. In an effort to get the counly .seat
a large portion of the lots in what is known as West Salem was deeded to
Richardson county.

The first village trustees were appointed by territorial authorities as
follows : I*. W. Birkhauser, H. Price. J. X'andervortt and Anson Rising,
with Samuel H. Roberts as mayor.

The first to visit the site of the town were Joseph and Thomas Hare,
John Roberts and John A. Singleton, who, with Jesse Crook, came upon the
scene in 1854 from Missouri, while on a trip of inspection of the new coun-
try with an idea of locating here permanently. These men were at once
pleased with the place from the fact that they found the waters of the ri\er
available to furnish power for mill sites, while the banks of the streams were
at that time heavily wooded with a growth of heavy timber which could be
used for building purposes. The Hare brothers conceived the idea of estab-
lishing a saw-mill to provide lumber for early settlers and soon had machin-
ery on the ground and set up a lumber mill.

The same year J. C. Lincoln, a relative of President Abraham Lincoln,
who greatly resembled the martyred president, arrived and opened up the
first trading post, selling to the Indians and white settlers who came in.
John W. Holt, who was later to play an important part in the business his-
tory of the county, was an early arrival and became associated in the business
with Mr. Lincoln, which firm continued as one of the leading business con-
cerns for more than a quarter of a century.

Salem became early an important factor in county affairs from the fact
that the county seat of government was removed to it from Archer. This
incident attracted many of the early settlers to that vicinity and materially
assisted in making it one of the permanent towns of the county.

J. C. Lincoln was the first to serve the people as postmaster and was
succeeded by John W. Holt,- who resigned the office in March, 1869. The
office was first located in the store building of Mr. Lincoln, while he served.

D. .\. Tisdell was the pioneer hotel man at Salem and remained in the
business for many years and owned a number of the hotels at that place.
The first was built in 1859 and stood on the brow of the hill. It was
destroyed by fire in 1878.

The l""irst Baptist church was the first to be built at Salem and was

RICHAUnSOX COLXTY, NEBRASKA. 235

erected in 1869. At that time they were joined h-v the Presbyterians. It was
located in a prominent site and had a seating cap:icit\- of three hundred. The
first pastor to serve the congregation was Rev. E. D. Thomas.

The Free Will Baptist church was one of the early churches repre-
sented and a church was built in 1868 with Rev. A. Curtis in charge.

The Presbyterian church was organized in 1863 '^y l'^e\- John Lilh and
twenty others.

The Salem Lodge Xo. 21. Independent Order of Odd h'ellows, is one
c>f the oldest and most prosperous of the Odd h^ellow lodges of the count_\-
and was first established on July 9th, 1870, with the following charter mem-
bers: D. H. Hull, X. Snyder, D. C. Simmons, Joseph H. .\llen, G. Hard and
X. Snider.

Lodge Xo. 47, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized on June 26th,
1874.

The Salem of tixla}- is a town of six or se\en hundred inhabitants, situ-
ated on the Burlington & Missouri railroad, se\-en miles west of b'alls C^ity.
.\t this point the railroad branches, the branch forming a short line to
Xebraska City, in Otoe county, to the north, and intervening points. The
depot is located more than half a mile from the business section of the city
and the visitor having entered a conveyance, that makes all the trains, is
driven past the grain elevator and stockyards and along a beautifully shaded
street that leads past the old fair grounds across the iron bridge that spans
the Xemaha, near one of the first mill sites of the county, and thence winds
uj) the long hill and on to the main street of the town.

Along this street are the business houses, being for the most part sub-
stantial brick structures, the fine nati\e building stone having been largely
used in their construction. All lines of business usually found in a thriving,
up-to-date city, are to be found represented there anil represented by a li\e
bunch of business men.

The people of Salem are progressive and enterprising and in the long
vears since the town was founded, it has kei)t |)ace with the growth of the
country that surrounds it. .\bove the tree tops in the valleys, the church
spires ascend to the very summit of the highest hill, two public school buildings
accommodate the sons and daughters of Salem, and capable teachers attend
to the educational wants of the community. It is from this hill that the mag-
nificent view before mentioned is afforded. To the north and northeast the
eve can see for miles and miles.

236 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF SALEM PRECINCT.
By D. A. Tisdell.

In 1854 two men named John A. Singleton and William Roberts, took
claims on the south fork of the Nemaha and one Mr. Short took a mill claim
at the junction of the north and south Nemahas, where Salem now stands.
The first election in Richardson county, which then included what is now
Pawnee count)^ was held in the fall of 1854, and John A. Singleton, from
our precinct, was elected to the House of Representatives of the Territorial
Legislature, being the first, with D. M. Johnson, to represent our county in
the Legislature, which convened in Omaha, January 16, 1855. The next
settlers in the precinct were : J. W. Roberts, Thomas and Joseph R. Hare. J.
C. Lincoln and Charles McDonald. The two latter located and laid out the
town of Salem, in January, 1855, J. Cass Lincoln starting a trading post and
Thomas R. Hare erecting a sawmill to supply lumber to the three settlers
who preceded him, and afterwards a gristmill to crack the corn that Single-
ton and Roberts raised to feed McDonald, who was in the real estate busi-
ness and who disposed of corner lots in Salem at fabulous prices to Eastern
capitalists.

West Salem was laid out on May 14th. 1857. This addition, now prac-
tically included in the town, was surveyed by Joseph B. Nickle, and was the
property of Charles McDonald and J. C. Lincoln. (J. C. Lincoln was a
second cousin of President Abraham Lincoln.) A part of West Salem was
donated to the county as an inducement to retain the county seat.

Among the number who settled in the precinct in 1855 were : John and
Weston Ogden, Galliger, Abe Roberts. W. H. Whitney and J. W. Headrick.
Those of 1856 were Mr. Oliver and Green. Additions of 1857 were A. J.
Currence, Lara Hoppes, David and Robert Boyd.

Up to that time nothing unusual transpired outside of the usual walks
of life incident to the settling of a new country. In the spring of 1859 there
was (juite an influx into the precinct. Among those who settled in the pre-
cinct were: F. .\. Tisdell, Sr., and Jr.. J. W. Leverett. J. M. Wa.shburn.
J. R. Brooks, M. D.: \\'illiam Slossen Peres, .\. Tisdell. John Billings, A.
Rising. Levi Wheeler. .\. I-Vitz. Lemmon lioys. H. C. Jennings, and S. \'an-
dervort. The two latter returned to Illinois in the following fall.

Tisdell & Company brought a steam saw-mill with them that was kept
running for several years supplying lumber for the needy. In the winter of
i860 I came to Nebraska and located at Salem on the 26th dav of Februarv.

SOLDIERS' MOXIIMEXT. SHUBERT.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 237

Soon thereafter I bought eighty acres of land adjoining the townsite from
John Billings, and got some of it liroke tlie following spring, with the expec-
tation of bringing my family in the near future and making that my perman-
ent home. The gold excitement in the far West induced me w ith others to
seek our fortune, if possible, among the mountains near Pike's Peak.

TOWN OF SHUBERT.

About sixteen miles due north of Falls City the town of Shubert is
located, and of all the towns in the county this is one of the most important,
from the standpoint of business transacted and general commercial activity.
It is the principal trading point for a wide extent of country, that is not only
well adapted for all kinds of farming and agricultural pursuits, but for stock
raising as well.

Having a most advantageous location, it is not wonderful that there
should have grown here a thriving town of some five hundred people and
tiiat the town should from the first show a degree of progress and a growth
that showed the site to be well chosen and the town to fill a want in that sec-
tion of the country. Those who have built up Shubert to what it is today,
have not only built wisely but they have built well. The town is laid out on a
generous scale, the streets being, very wide, and along the main street are to
be found many business blocks of brick that would be a credit to larger towns.
One thing that impresses the visitor is that nothing seems to be overdone, but
each branch of industry is just sufficiently represented to induce good, healthy
competition, which is the life of trade and hence the very life of the town.
Shubert is fortunate in possessing a class of business men who are not only
progressive and up-to-date, but who are accommodating and congenial. Their
stores are all large and well kept and are stocked with a sufficient variety of
merchandise to meet the demands of an ever increasing trade.

What is true of the business section of the town, as to appearance,
applies to the residence section. There are many substantial homes, whose
appearance stands as evidence of the prosperity of the owners and their pride
in living well and in the appearance and beauty of the town.

The Nebraska City Branch of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad passes
through Shubert and in the course of a }ear immense amounts of stock, grain,
etc., are shipped out. Shubert is also reached by the county telephone lines.

Shubert people may well boast of their public school building, which

238 RICHARDSdN COl'NTV, NEBRASKA.

is a large two-story brick structure and as fine as any in the county. The
schools are kept ever in the front rank, and no teachers but the most compe-
tent are ever employed. In the way of churches the town is supplied with
a number of creditable edifices and all churches are largely attended and
are in a prosperous condition.

One newspaper, the Slmhcri Citizen, is published there by J. L. Dalby,
who is a veteran newspaper man of the county, and his paper has always
championed the best interests of Shubert.

TOWN OF RULO.

The town of Rulo, might well be termed the "front door of Richardson
county." It is located on the eastern boundary of the county on a series
of high hills that overlook the Missouri river and at a point where the old
.^.tchison & Nebraska, now known as the Burlington & Alissouri railroad,
enters the state.

There is much of historical interest connected with the town of Rulo,
and much of the earlier history of the county was formed in the vicinit}- of
this place. It was originally one of the many settlements that were made
along the Missouri river at the time when the flood of emigration first met
the flood waters of this river and rested a moment as it were, before sweep-
ing westward to inundate the great plains that lay beyond and to ulti-
mately sweep away the last vestige of all that was aboriginal and uncivilized.
The land upon which Rulo now stands was originally part of the lands
granted to the wife of Charles Rouleau under the terms of the treaty of
Prairie Du Chien. It is from her that the town takes its name and it
should be so spelled, but time has brought into use the shorter form (^f
spelling.

It was first laid out in 1856 and incorporated in 1859, at which time
l)art nf the lands belonging to Mrs. Bedard, a sister of Mrs. Rouleau, was
included in a plat of the townsite. The location is one that nnist have com-
mended itself strongly to the pioneers, as a better site for a town couUl not
be found. It stands on a cluster of hills from the top of which the eye
may follow the graceful curves of the Missouri river for miles and miles,
and may gaze across the bottom land upon the opposite side until vision
is shut out by the veil of distance. The person standing on one of these
hills may look into three states for he is standing in Nebraska and to the
south loom the hills of northern Kansas, and to the east the spreading flats
of western Missouri.

RIClIARnSnX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

239

The older residents of this county will recall many names that are
closely linked with the history of Rulo. Charles Rouleau, Eli Bedard, E.
H. Johnson, Charles Martin. Eli Plante, F. X. Dupuis and scores of others
have long since gone to their last long rest, but it seems as though their
spirit still dwells amid the familiar haunt of the hills. The earlier settlers
of Rulo came with the various expeditions that set out to explore the mys-
teries of the then unknown West, but who stopped to cast their lots on
the banks of the turbid Missouri. The Rulo of today is a far different
place and the linger of time has so marked it, as it has the whole West.
Many of the descendants of the pioneers still reside there and have shared
m the foresight of their ancestors, who knew a good thing when they saw
it, and founded the town of Rulo.

When the Atchison & Nebraska railroad was built (the first rail of
this road was laid across the Nebraska-Kansas state line on May 12, 1871),
a station was established a few miles west of Rulo known as the "Rulo
Y," and from there a stub line was built to Rulo. But in 1885 the rail-
road company found that this arrangement was unsatisfactory and accord-
ingly a magnificent steel bridge was built to span the Missouri at Rulo and
the line built to connect with what is known as the Kansas City and Council
Bluffs line on the other side of the river. This line connects at Napier,
Missouri, and thus rail connection was had with Kansas City and St. Joseph,
iNIissouri, on both sides of the river. The bridge is one of the largest
spanning that stream. The Missouri at this point is quite treacherous and
the cutting by the current has given the government and the railroad com-
panj^ much trouble and large sums of money have been expended in trying
to curb it. The bridge was more than two years in process of construction
and cost more than a million dollars. The bridge came to be the subject of
warm legal controversy soon after its completion, when it came to be assessed
for taxation. Richardson county wanted it taxed ( i. e., that is. the west half
of it, ) at its value, independent of the other part of the company's roadbed in
the c<junty. The case was carried to the supreme court and in course of time
a decision was rendered adverse to the county, which in efifect allows it to be
taxed the same as other mileage of the railroad in the county. The company,
however, has alwa\s charged an additional sum of fifty cents extra for each
passenger carried over it, and the same is true as to freight, which is burdened
with an extra charge for transport over the structure.

The early days, with their thrilling history, have passed away, and where
lawlessness once reigned in a rough river town of the border, a thoroughlv

RDSON COUNTY, NEBR.'

modern little citv now stands, inhabited by more than a thousand prosperous
and contented people. The town is well built, the business blocks for the
most part being two-story brick structures and occupied by successful mer-
chants, who enjoy a good trade and a patronage that is merited.

The rugged topography lends a peculiar beauty to the town and neat
and comfortable homes nestle in the valleys and on the hill sides, hidden
beneath a veritable forest of trees. Above the tops of these trees the spires
of many churches testify to the religious sentiment that prevails and on
the quiet Sabbath morning the sound of the bells float out on the air that
once bore the red man's war song or the cry of wild animals, succeeded first
by the weird song of the steamboat whistle, followed by the song of civili-
zation, the church bell. Rulo boasts of as fine a public school building as
may be found in the county. It is a large, brick building, equipped with
all the modern appliances and capable teachers are always employed. Rulo
is also a good market, having a large territory to draw from and affording
good shipping facilities. A large grain and stock business is transacted
here and a great deal of all kinds of produce is shipped out.

TOWN OF PRESTON.

The town of Preston was laid out and plattetl on land bordering the edge
of the great Sac and Fox Indian Reservation, which comprised thousands of
acres of land lying in the southeastern part of the county. It was for many
years one of the principal shipping points of the county. Jeft'erson precinct,
in which Preston is located, is one of the most fertile and productive precincts
in the county and the great majority of the products is shipped to the outer
world from Preston. The town is located about a mile south of the point
where the Muddy flows into the Nemaha and six miles southeast of Falls City.
Its existence dates from 1881, when the town was first platted by a man from
Hiawatha as "Bluffton," but as there was at that time another town in the
state having the same name, or one \ery similar, the postal authorities made
objections and the name was changed to Preston.

The construction of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad line marked the
beginning of an era of development and prosperity for the surrounding
country and rendered imperative the need of a station with adequate shipping
facilities, .\round this station the pretty little town of Preston sprang up. A
big elevator was constructed to take care of the grain that was to l>e shipped
while the railroad yards furnished accommodations for the stock raisers who
desired to ship stock to the markets of Kansas City and St. Joseph. The

STREET SCENE AT RT'LO

ST. JIARK'S F,\AX(;i:i.K'AI. LITHKItAX t'lIfltCH, NEAR VERDOX

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 24I

town was very nicely located on the high banks that adjoins the Nemaha bot-
toms on the south and overlooks the rich lands that stretch away on every
side.

The close proximity of the large tribe of Sac and Fox Indians was a
great source of revenue to the merchants of Preston. Here a great portion
of the Indian annuities were paid and spent and the presence of the red man
on the streets was a very common sight.

Preston was well supplied with stores, a bank, an opera house, school
building and many homes as beautiful as might be found in the countv.

NIMS CITY.

This little inland town was located several miles south of the town of
Dawson, in Nemaha township, on the southwest quarter of southeast quarter
of section 17, township i, north of range 14 east of the sixth principal
meridian, by Mrs. Betsey U. Nims. The little place occupies the space of
about one city block and was regularly platted and the same duly recorded.
The plat bears the date of July 20, 1903. Its promoters probably started it
as a rival of a much older little place to the southwest of it, which was known
as Middleburg. The latter had been a little mail station from the very early
days, and was in the same township. Nims City was at its best in 1906-7-8,
and boasted of a church, several stores, a blacksmith shop, barber shop and a
large public hall and hotel. The hall, or opera house, was and is still used
much like a town hall and was a very popular place for many years past for
the young people who desired to gather there in the winter evenings to dance
away the hours. Frank Nims of Falls City, a son of the founder, was the
moving spirit in the place and resided on a farm nearby. Since his departure
and that of others prominent there, the place has not continued to prosper as
formerly.

VERDON.

Verdon is the second station north on the Missouri Pacific line from
Falls City ; Strausville, being the first, and is eleven miles distant. The land
on which stands the village is the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter
of section 10, township 2. north of range 15, east of the sixth prime meridian,
and was patented to William McK. Maddox, under date, September 15, i860.
The land was later owned by Mr. and Mrs. John A. Hall and it was they who
founded the town. The plat, signed by John A. Hall and his wife Julia, was
(16)

24- RICHARIJSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

filed in the office of the register of deeds on February 22. 1S82, at the time
of the building- of the ^Missouri Pacific railroad north and south across Rich-
ardson county. Since the original plat was made a part of the otificial records
of the county a number of additions have been added to the village as follows :
By Joseph H. Meyers antl wife Maggie A., on the west, being a part of the
west half of the southeast (|uarter of section 10, township 2, nordi of range
15, dated November 10, 1884. This addition was surveyed by Creighton
Morris, of Humboldt, on October 6, 1884, and the plat was filed on Noveniljer
12, 1884; and another addition by Miss Camma Hall, being the southeast one-
half of the nortlieast quarter of the southeast quarter, filed on September 1,
1885. This addition was also surveyed by Creighton Morris, October 8,
1 884 : and another by the Lincoln Land Company, on the east side of the town.

The town is beautifully located on a hill overlooking Muddy Creek val-
ley and occupied a most picturesque location. The town has a village gov-
ernment, a board of trustees, constituted as follows : G. C. Goolsby, chairman ;
C. H. Wear, H. J. Corn, trustees: C. G. Humphrey, clerk; H. X. Timmerman.
treasurer, and Frank Waggner. marshal. The population of \'erdon has
been reported as follows, according to the United States government census:
1890, 253: 1900, 340: 1910, 406. The town has electric lights and a good
.-vstem of local telephones, and nearly every line of business is well represented.

There was for a time much uncertainty as to where the town which we
know as Verdon would be located. This uncertainty was the result of the
railroads, or the uncertainty of the location of the railroad. Prior to the
locatiiin of the Missouri Pacific right-of-way. the Republican River \ alley
Railroad Company, which is the Burlington Line, now extending from Salem
to Nemaha City, had surveyed a line from Salem to Nemaha City, by way of
the present line, and had graded the road from the north down to Muddy creek,
just south of the town of \'erdon. As Salem was the trading point of that entire
communit\- in those da\s, the community was anxious that the Burlington be
extended to tap -the main line of the Burlington at Salem. It was at this time
tliat John A. Hall, then one of the foremost men and progressive citizens of
that section, together with other public-spirited citizens of that community,
worked up an interest in the matter and the precinct voted bonds, the proceeds
of which were to be used in the constructiim of a railroad. The line was to lie
run to Salem, but after the l)on(ls were voted the railway company changed
its surveys and turned the road down Muddy creek, from the point where
X'erdon now is located, and ran the line to Falls City by way of the Muddy
vallev and over the divide east of Freeling Switch, which is now. or was,
located on the Missouri Pacitic. |ohn Hall then brouijlit an iniunction siu't.

RICHARDSON COINTV, NEBRASKA. 243

enjoining collection on the I)on(ls. This suit was successful and accounts
for the fact that Liberty precinct was relieved from paying the bonds that
were voted. All the other precincts involved in this action were parties in
the suit and escaped liability for payment on the bonds with the exception
of Muddy, which, in default of appearance, was held and obliged to pay, which
it did. The Republican River \'alley Railway Company's project was then
abandoned; this all being prior to the building of the Missouri Pacific.

The Missouri Pacific then acquired its right-of-way and J. l^^. Houtz, of
Omaha, located the towns on that line. It is alleged that his nnethods of doing
so were by going to different landowners along the proposed line of right-
of-way, and undertaking to work up a contest between them for the location
of the towns on the line. In this way the farmers of one section were
induced to bid against one another. They knew that the\- were reasonably
sure that it was only a cjuestion of time until the Burlington would build a
cut-off from Salem to Nemaha City and knew that the point where Verdon
was afterward located would be the junction between the two roads, but,
nevertheless Houtz got Captain Ewing interested and it is said that the latter
offered thirty acres of land if he would locate the town at a point designated
by him, about two and one-half miles ea.st of the present location of Verdon.
John Hall gave to the Missouri Pacific, or to the representative, J. E. Houtz,
the undivided half of the southeast c|uarter of the southeast (|uarter of sec-
tion 10, township 2, north of range 15, in consideration of the location of a
depot and depot facilities at that point. Besides this he granted a right of
wa\' north through the north half of that section.

August Schoenheit, of Falls Cit\-, was at that time local representatixc
or attorney for the Missouri Pacific and when the townsite was platted he
made a visit to the home of Mr. Hall (near \'erdon) for the puqwse of
making a division of the lots between Mr. Hall and the railway company.
Mr. Hall was away from home at the time and was represented in the division
by his son, Thomas L. Hall, now chairman of the Nebraska state railwa\-
commission, who was familiar with the lay of the ground, and who proceeded
to assist in dividing up the lots. The di\ision was made by each in turn
taking a lot, Mr. Hall taking the first and Mr. Schoenheit the second. This
procedure was continued to the end. The action <jn the part of the younger
Hall was made subject to the approval of his father on his return, and was
later ratified by the elder Hall. In 1883 or 1884 the Burlington jjuilt its line
down from Xemaha City to Salem and established its depot, which location
has remained the same until this day.

This matter becomes interesting from the fact that such methods could not

244 RICEtARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

now be used in tlie location of depots an<l townsites in tlie state of Nebraska.
The state railway commission would not now allow the railroads to become
entangled in real-estate deals and locate the depots and arrange station facili-
ties for their sole satisfaction and profit. The public, which patronizes such
places, is now considered to have an interest and the same is protected by the
commission. In this connection is worthy of note that the commission has
compelled the removal and change of several depots in the state of Nebraska
that had been located by the railroads without taking into consideration the
interest of the community and the traffic in each particular community in
locating the roads, or rather the depots, on account of some real-estate entan-
glement. This was true of Gering, I'^linchville, Gandy and a number of other
places, so it is said.

Verdon is just one of those little centers which serves its own particular
community and is typically representative of a great class of this size towns in
the county and state. There are those who believe that it is much lietter
to have a great number of small towns serving each community, rather than
to have great cities. It tends to better moral and civic conditions in e\ery
respect. It tends to a more economic way of living. It tends to prevent peo-
ple in general from getting the wanderlust. People in the smaller towns are
often happier and more contented than those in the larger cities.

STKAUSVILLE.

Strausville is the youngest village in the county and was laid out b\' its
founder, Gustave Strauss, and his wife on land owned by them and bears
liis name. It is located on parts of the southeast quarter of section 29 and
parts of the southwest cjuarter of section 28 of township 2, north of range
16, Ohio township. The little village, which contains four blocks, was sur-
veyed and platted by M. N. Bair, at that time a resident of Falls City, IVIay i,
1901, but the plat was not filed for record in the register's office at Falls City
until June i. 1912. Straussville has always been quite a grain-receiving station
fur the farmers in that section and boasts of a store and Iilacksmith shop.

FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN SITE OF OLD SI sri;rili:.\S AS IT

FALLS CITY. APPEAKS IX I'.n?.

SCENE IN OLD ST. STEPHENS CEMETERY. liHT. MONF.MEN'J
1S5C AND 1859, STILL STANDING.

CHAPTER X.
Series of First Events.

ST. STEPHENS.

St. Stephens was the first city of Richardson county. In 1861 it was
I lie largest, most flourishing and only town of any conse(|uence in the county.
Today it is known only to the old settlers. Even the precinct which once
bore that name now forms a part of Barada, and twenty years hence St.
Stephens will be known only in the archives of the court house and to the
historian. The townsite was laid out by Gen. Ben F. Loan and Stephen
Story in the spring of 1855, on land belonging to Israel Price. Henry Dukes,
Stephen Lyons and Stephen Story. S. F. Nuckolls & Company conducted
the first store. A A'Ir. Archer kept the first hotel. The late William R.
Cain, of Falls City, built the third dwelling house in town. In 1856 Israel
Price started a blacksmith shop and in the next year J. W. Crane, of St.
Joseph, Missouri, started the second store. During the years 1857, 1858 and
1859, the town grew rapidly, reaching the height of its glory in 1861, at
which time it had two general stores, one kept by Crane & Lewis, and the
other by D. J. Martin ; two saloons, one kept by Henly Price and Henry
Dukes, and the other by George Cooley. Henry Smith was the blacksmith
and Allen Gleason ran the ferry across the ^lissouri river. In 1857 Huston
Nuckolls, Stephen Story and W. P. Loan started a general land office and
in the spring of 1858 they held a public sale of land and town lots. Father
Thomas, as Tie was called, a Baptist preacher, living near Rulo. preached the
first sermon ever preached in the toivn. John McFarland was the first
justice of the peace; Stephen Lyons, the second; William Morgan, the third;
S. G. Lewis, the fourth and William R. Cain, the fifth, who held the office
for eight consecutive years, without an appeal from his decisions. Israel
Price was the first constable. The first school was taught by William Bell
and the second, by William McMurren. The first school board was elected
in 1859, with William R. Cain as president, and for twenty-one years Mr.

246 RICUARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Cain held a position on the school board and only resigned when he removed
to Falls Cit\-. Mr. Cain was the father of Hon. J. R. Cain, president of
the Bank of Stella: C. Fred Cain, now of Miami, Florida, and for years a
merchant of Falls City; John Cain, of Boseman, Montana; Mrs. Laura B.
Ta-vton, of Falls City, and Mrs. James Smith, of Butler, Missouri. The
first postmaster was T. C. Sicafoos. The first doctor was David Whitmire,
and \\ . 1'. Loan, was the first lawyer. The prominent citizens of St. Stephens,
when at the height of its prosperitv. were Aury Ballard, Doctor Whitmire,
J. W. Crain, William M. Morrison, D. S. Phillips, Press Martin, Huston
Nuckolls and W". P. Loan. — "Pioneer Record."

SOME OF THE "iTRSTS."

The first mill in the count\- ;it whicli grist was ground was located at
or near Salem and was built by the Hare boys.

The first white man to settle on the ALiddy was John Harkendorff, who
located there in 1854.

.\. H. Sloan claimed the credit of ha\'ing cast the first vote recorded
in Liberty township.

The Goolsby district in Ohio township had the first public school in
Richardson county. Air. Bartlett was the teacher.

Jane Cooper taught the first school in the "Cupolo" district in a house
later occupied by Reece Williams, as a dwelling.

William H. Crook disputes the generall\- accepted story that the first
school of the county was taught at or near Falls City. He says that he remem-
bers going to a good school in a little log house that stood on the banks of
the creek, a little west of old Archer, Ijefore Falls City was e\er laid off : and
that the second school was taught by a one-armed lady, wh(ise name was
Samuels. He also recalls that she was great on "lickin' and larnin'." She
was a teacher (jf the "old school," who Ijelieved that to "spare the rod was
to spoil the child:" hence, it was a large factor in her method of discipline,
and good traits in the character of Mr. Crook are some of the results of that
first school.

The first electiun in Ohio town.ship was in tlie fall of 1868 at the Goolsby
school house. Twenty-eight Denuicratic and fifty-six Republican votes were
polled.

The first while men to e.xplore the county adjacent to the Great Xemaha
river in Richardson countv were Jesse Crook, Isaac Crook. Tuhn Singleton.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 247

and W. G. Goolsby. They came over from Missouri and went as far west
as the present site of Salem. The visit was made in 1854.

The Maple Grove cemetery in Ohio township, was located in 1859 ^v
John HarkendorlY, Amos Frank and S. J. Harris, the occasion being the
death of Phelix Misplis, a lad about thirteen years of age.

The first .session of the Nebraska state Legislature that met at Lincoln,
after the removal of the territorial capitol from Omaha, was convened on
January 7, 1869, the four previous sessions having met at Omalia after
the adoption of the state Constitution.

E. E. Cunningham had the honor of being the first to represent Richard-
son county in the first state Senate to meet at Lincoln, and Isham Reavis
was "rtoat" senator for Richardson, Nemaha and Johnson counties at the same
time and place.

The village of Arclier, which became the county seat for a time, was
located in 1855.

David L. Thompson was one of the first white men to enter Richard-
son county with the idea of making it a permanent home. He came in the
early fifties and located at the county seat. Archer, where he was united in
marriage to China M. Miller, a daughter of Judge J. C. Miller, who was the
first judge of the county and who at the time of the arrival of Thompson
kept a hotel and store in the new town. As soon as l'"alls City got fairly
started as a town he came here and made it his home for many years ant!
served for a time as deputy sherifY.

FIRST FUNERAL.

The first religious service which could have been classed in the nature
of a funeral for a white woman in Richardson county, is said to liave been
held for Mrs. Frank Purkett, who, with her child, froze to death during
child-birth. The husband had been drinking heavily and was absent, accord-
ing to reports at the time.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Numbered among the very first settlers of the county was James
Stumbo, who came here in 1856 and was prominent at Nemaha Falls, an
obsolete town on the banks of the Nemaha river, near the present site of
Falls City. He was the father of twelve children, eight sons and four
daughters. His death occurred on January 21, 1894.

T. L. Overman, of Stella, took up his residence at first at St. Deroin

^4?^ KICriARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

in Xemaha countv, coming to that place in March, 1858. In tlie month
of June of that year Joseph Deroin, an Indian chief for whom the place
was named, was shot by another Indian by the name of James Bedo. Mr.
Overman succeeded in getting many things at a sale of Indian goods, whicli
liad been the property of the chief, and still has them.

FIRST MARRIAGES.

Tlie Falls City, Nebraska, Journal, under date of December 22, 1893,
liad the following to say relative to the early marriages in Richardson
county : ;

"In all probability some marriage contracts were entered into in 1854
and 1855 that were never recorded, and no license was necessary for the
performance of a marriage, and even a law requiring the contract to be
recorded in the register's office was not passed until the spring of 1855. The
contract that appears on the record as of the earliest date is that of Mr.
and Mrs. W. I\I. Maddox, which is given below, although diis was the third
contract filed.

"Below are given some of the first contracts filed, which will be of inter-
est on account of the events of the past that they will bring to the minds
of the older settlers.

"Married, November the 29th. In the year A. D. 1855 By Pharagus
Pollard, Acting Justice of the Peace, of Richardson county, Nebraska Ter-
ritory, Joshua Boyd, of Holt County. Missouri, to i\Iiss Elizabeth Miller,
of Richardson County, Nebraska Territory. Pharagus Pollard, J. P."

Territory of Nebraska,)
County of Richardson, ) ss.

I. J. C. Lincoln, Register of Deeds, of said county do hereby certify
that the above is a correct copy left on file for record in this office.

Given under my hand and private seal (there being no public seal pro-
vided in this county) at this office January 15th, A. D. 1856.

(Sealj J. C. Lincoln, Register of Deeds.

The second instrument recorded showed that on December i6th, 1855,
Pharagus -Pollard, acting justice of the peace, united in marriage, Samuel
Howard and Miss Mary Gallaher, both of this county, at the home of
David Gallaher. This instrument was recorded in the office of register of
deeds, January 15th, 1855.

lUCIIAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 249

The tliird instrument was recorded on February 2nd, 1856, in tlie regis-
ter of deeds office and read as follows :

"This may certify that on the Fourth day of October, 1855, I, William
D. Gage, Minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, did unite in the
bonds of matrimony, Mr. W. M. :\Iaddox, of Nebraska City, and Margaret
Miller, of Archer, Richardson County, all in the Territory of Nebraska.
^VILLIAM D. Gage, M. M. E. Church.

Territory of Nebraska,)
Richardson County, ) ss.

I, E. S. Sharp, Dept. Register of Deeds, of said county do hereby
certify that the above is a true copy left on file in this office for record. Given
under my hand and private seal (there being no public seal yet provided
for the use of the county). Done at Archer this 2nd day of Februarv,
A. D. 1856.

(Seal) E. S. Sh.\rp, Dept. Register.

QUAINT MARRIAGE CONTRACT.

The fourth instrument was filed for record on July 7, 1856, and was
something of a curiosity. It was recorded by VV. H. Mann, deputy register,
and read as follows :

"Know All Men By These Presents: That Richard Clinsey and
Perilla Adamson have consented together in Holy Wedlock and have wit-
nessed the same before me, Joseph Friese, a Justice of the Peace for Rich-
ardson County, Nebraska Territory, and thereto have pledged their faith
either to the other, and ha\-e declared the same by their consent, I do declare
that they are Man and W^ife fore\er on and after this Thirteentli day of
March, A. D. 1856.

Joseph Friese, Justice of the Peace.

The fifth instrument was recorded on the same da\' and was identical
in date, phraseology and official signature, except that it proclaimed tlie
marriage of James O. Loughlin and Liddy Adamson.

The sixth instrument was recorded on August 21, 1856, and showed
that Justice Pharagus Pollard had united in marriage on June 20, 1856,
Marcellus Housner and I'olly N. Shelley, both of this county at the house
of A. Shellev.

250

COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

OTHER FIRSTS.

The first couple united in marriage in Lil^erty precinct, was George
Miller and Elizabeth Cornell. The happy event occurred on February i6,
1856, Rev. Wingate King officiating.

Dilliard Walker, who for many years resided near Humboldt, entered
the county in 1855. His wagon was the third to cross the south fork of
the Nemaha in this county. A man named Jemeson and Richard Gird
preceded him.

Stephen B. Aliles, one of the largest landowners in the county at his
death and one of the wealthiest men in the state, was the man who first car-
ried United States mail into Richardson count}-, and it was he who organ-
ized the first bank in the county.

The first school in the county was taught by Mrs. Saunders, on what
was at that time known as the Kirk Branch, a half mile northwest of Archer.
The school was held in the year 1856.

\y. R. Crook assisted in the work of surveying the town of Falls City
in 1857.

The Broad Axe, one of the very first newspapers published in the county,
was for a time printed at the hotel then standing on the lots now occupied
by the Richardson Countv Bank, and owned by Jesse Crook. It was edited
by Edwin Burbank and S. R. Jameson. This was in 1858.

The first court to be held in Richardson county was presided over by
a judge at Archer, at that time the county seat.

B. Frank Leechman, now residing on his farm north of i'^alls Citv. was
the first white child, so far as known, to be born in Richardson county. He
still resides on the farm on which he first saw the light of dav and is one
of the prosperous farmers of the county.

William Level, long since deceased, is deserving of the honor of having
built the first log cabin in the count}-. It was constructed in 1853 on a farm
east of the site of Archer, and the first election ever held in tiie cotmtv was
held in this same cabin.

Jesse Crook w as the first white man to raise a crop of corn in Richard-
son county, and the same was grown on land now- owned by William Xutter,
southwest of Archer in 1855,

FIRST WOiMAX MAIL C.VRRIER.

The honcir belongs to Miss Lydia A. Giddings, a daugliter of Elder C.
W. Giddings, the founder of the town of Table Rock, a town just west of

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 25 1

Humboldt and in Pawnee county, about thirty miles west of Falls City.
Prior to the coming of the Burlington railroad, as it is known today, a mail
route was in operation between Falls City and Table Rock, but the stations
were very much different from those now on the line of the railroad between
the two points, i. e., Falls City and Table Rock, -many of them being men-
tioned in the story. of Defunct Towns of the County in another part of this
work. Miss Giddings was one of the carriers on the route. Later, she
was united in marriage to a man b\' the name of Holmes, and again to a
Mr. John Gere. When last heard from she was a resident of Honolulu, in
the Hawaiian islands, of the mid-Pacific, and her sons. Giles H. and John
N. Gere, Jr., held responsible positions with the government.

Mil. I. AL'THORIZED IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

An act approved January, i860, authorized Silas Babcock, his heirs
or assigns, to erect a mill dam not to e.xceed ten feet high across Long Branch
creek in Franklin precinct, at any point within four miles of the town of
Franklin.

FIRST BABY GIRL BORN.

Julia Tiu-ner was the first girl baby born in Richardson county, but
a later survey left her birthplace in what is now Pawnee county. When
first surveyed Richardson county also included Pawnee county and Cincin-
nati was a young and thriving town near the site of the present village
of DuBois on the Rock Island railroad. It was near this place that the
little lady first saw the light of day.

.\N E.'YRLY' TOLL BRIDGE ON NEM.\HA.

An act of a session of the Territorial Legislature authorized Jacob M.
Davis and A. C. Anderson to establish and keep a toll bridge and ferry
across the Great Xemaha river in Richardson county, at a point within
six miles from its mouth. The rate of tolls or ferriage was limited to
fifty cents per team and wagon : footman or stock, ten cents.

RICH.\KDS0N COl^NTY MINING COMPANY.

One of the first companies organized and incorporated for the purpose
of mining in the county was known as the Richardson County Mining Com-
pany, and was incorporated by an act of the Legislature passed and approved
on February 12, 1866. Those named in the act incorporating the company
were : Peter P. Smith, Charles A. Hergesheimer, William R. Cain, Stephen
Belliles, Alexander St. Louis. They proposed to prospect for coal.

kRDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FIRST HOUSE IX FALLS CITY.

The first houses in Falls City were in most instances built from houses
formerly doing service at Archer, Winnebago and Yankton, towns which
disappeared from the map. The first hotel, the Union Hotel, occupying
the same location as the present "Union House," was constructed from a
building removed to Falls City from Yankton, by Jacob Good.

Billiard Walker, pioneer, assisted in the building of the First house
erected in Salem, the same being owned by Thomas Hare. Walker also
furnished the lumber and stone for the first church at Salem, known as the
Close Communion Baptist.

Barada precinct, in Richardson county, was named for Antoine Barada,
a well-kno\\n half-breed Indian. It is said of him that he was a man of
unusual strength and fine physical proportions, with features that showed
his Indian blood most unmistakably.

FIRST COURT HOUSE.

The residence of John C. Aliller, known as Judge Miller, located at
Archer, was a double log one story and a half high and one of the finest
homes of the time in this county. At different times it served as hotel,
postoffice and court house.

Isaac H. Jones, for many years a resident of Rulo, settled opposite the
Big Nemaha in 1848, removing to Nebraska seventeen years later.

FIRST CHILD BORN IX LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

F'rom the family record of Stewart Russell, of Salem, it is learned that
his son, S. A. Russell, was born in Liberty precinct, Richardson county,
February 13, 1858, and from this it is claimed that he was the first white
child born in that precinct.

CHAPTER XL

AGRTCri.TURE AND StOCKRAISING.

Richardson county originally was covered with a luxuriant growth of
prairie grasses, with marginal areas of timber along the streams. The
first settlers located along the edges of first bottoms, where there was an
abundant supply of fuel.

During the first few years vegetables, corn, and wheat were grown for
the subsistence of the family. As claims were permanently located and
conditions became more stable, the farmers began to break the prairie land
for the more extensive production of corn and wheat, with some oats for
stock feed. A wide variety of vegetables was grown. Some hemp was pro-
duced, but this crop was soon abandoned. No clover, timothy, or bluegrass
was grown while the country was agriculturally new. Up to about 1874
the farmers produced spring wheat and corn as their main cash crops, and
some oats, winter wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, and flax. Very few cattle
and hogs were raised. The yields reported by the early settlers were in
many cases higher than at present, but with poor methods of farming- the
yields soon decreased. The prices of crops were very low and as a result
the farmers generally were poor.

Wheat and corn continued the important cash crops, but within the last
twenty to twenty-five years agricultural conditions have graduall}- improved
and today most of the farmers are thrifty and prosperous. The dairy indus-
try, the raising of hogs and cattle, and the feeding of beef cattle have no
doubt been important factors in this progress, I)ut the impro\ed conditions
are due chiefly to better methods of handling the soil.

In 1879 corn was the most important crop in the county. The 1880
census reports eighty-six thousand seven hundred sixty-six acres in ctjrn and
thirty-one thousand five hundred seventy-nine acres in wheat. Oats are
reported on about six thousand acres, and barley on something over three
thousand acres. Hay was cut from a total of fifteen thousand four huntlred
ninety-two acres. After 1880 spring wheat declined in importance, as
owing to tlie poor yields of this crop it was found more profital)le to grow
corn. The chinch Inig. the grasshopper, and gnnvino; wheal continuously

254 RICHAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

on the same land for many }ears in succession were the main causes for the
poor yields of this crop. Hay was an important crop, and some rye, buck-
wheat, and tobacco were grown. The orchard products were vahied at
nine thousand three hundred twenty-eight dohars, and market-garden crops
at fifty-one thousand nine luindred sixty dollars.

By 1890 the area in corn had increased to one hundred fifteen thousand
seven hundred eighty-live acres and the area in oats to twenty-one thousand
eight hundred twenty-six acres. Wheat is reported in the census of 1890
on only ten thousand two hundred and twenty-tliree acres. Hay was grown
on twenty-seven thousand and twenty-four acres. r}e on nearly two tliou-
sand acres, and barley on less than five hundred acres. Potatoes are reported
on nearly one thousand ti\e hundred acres. Market-garden products and
small fruits had a total value of only two thousand and seventy-five dollars.

From 1889 to 1899 there was a steady advance in the acreage of all
the staple crops. In the 1900 census alxjut one hundred and thirty thousand
acres are reported in corn, twenty-nine thousand acres in oats, and twenty
thousand acres in wheat. Of the hay crops, wild grasses, reported on about
eighteen th(jusand acres, tame grasses on about ten thousand acres, and
alfalfa on nearly one thousand acres were the most important. The acreage
in r}e, barley, and buckwheat was small. There were about two hundred
and fifty thousand apple trees in the county, nearh one hundred thousand
grapevines, and about seventy-five thousand peach trees. Of the live-stock
products, animals sold and slaughtered were valued at one million one hun-
dred sixty-seven thousand four hundred and ninety dollars, dairy products
at sixty-five thousand four hundred seventy-four dollars, and poultry at
ninety-four thousand eight hundred ninety-six dollars. From 1899 to 1909
there was an increase in the number of acres of wheat and a decrease in the
acreage of other crops, especially corn.

At present the production of grain is the cliief tvpe of farming in
Richardson county, though dairying and the raising of hogs and other live
stock are important industries. Corn, oats, wheat, timothy and clover mixed,
alfalfa, and wild grasses are the chief general farm crops. The tendency is
to grow less corn and more wheat and leguminous crops.

TliE PKI.XCIPAI. MONEY CHOP.

Corn is by far the most important crop in acreage, and is the principal
money crop. The 1910 census reports corn on one hundred and three
thousand three hundred eightv-six acres. There are about two acres of corn

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 255

to every acre of all other cereals combined, even though the acreage has
declined considerably in the last decade. About one-half the total area of
improved farm land in Richardson county is devoted to the production of
com. The crop is grown on practically all the soil types of the county, but
does best on the Marshall silt loam. The average yield for the county is
about thirty bushels per acre. Reid's Yellow Dent and Iowa Silver Mine are
the most popular varieties. About eighty-five per cent, of the corn is listed,
some is check-rowed, and in a few cases the crop is double-listed. Most of
the corn is sold, though a large part is fed to hogs and beef cattle. It is
the general practice to pasture the corn lands after the ears have Ijeen re-
moved. There are only a few silos in the county.

Oats rank second in acreage to corri, and the area in this crop seems
to be increasing steadily. In 1909 there were twenty-five thousand and
ninet)'-three acres in this crop. Most of the crop is fed to horses and mules ;
the remainder is sold largely in local markets, though some is shipped to
Kansas City. White and Green Russian, Kherson, and Swedish Select are
the principal varieties grown.

The third crop in imiMrtance is wheat. The census of 19 10 reports
twenty-one thousand eight hundred seventy-one acres devoted to this crop.
About 1895 ^^'^^ state experiment station demonstrated the superior qualities
of a variety of Russian winter wheat known as Turkey Red, and this has
almost entirely displaced the spring varieties formerly grown, as it produces
better yields, can be sown in the fall, a time of the year when it does not
interfere with other farm labor, and matures before the .season of dry
weather and hot winds. Wlieat is strictly a cash crop, and most of it is
sold directl\- fr(im the threshing machine to local elevators. Most of it is
shipped later to Kansas Cit\'. A small proportion of the crop is storetl in
farm elevators or granaries, and held for higher prices. Scarcely any wheat
is grown for lionie use. the flour used in tiie county lieing shipped in. Tiie
value of cereal crops is reported in the 1910 census as two million iliree
hundred forty-si.x thousand seven hundred eighty-seven dollars, and of other
grains ancl seeds as ten thousand three hundred forty-eight dollars.

Timothy and clover mixed is the most important ha}' crop It is
re])orted in the census of 1910 on eleven thousand three hundred twentv-
nine acres. During the progress of the survey excellent stands of this croii
were seen, though it is reported that in dry years the crop is not nearly as
good. In dry seasons considerable difiiculty is experienced in obtaining a
good seeding of clover. There arc reported four thousand seven hundred

256 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ninetv-nine acres in timothy alone, three thousand three hundred and six
acres in clover alone, seven thousand seven hundred and three acres in wild
grasses, two hundred ninety acres in millet and one hundred sixty-one acres
in other tame grasses. Some red-clover seed and timothy seed are produced.
Ordinarily clover yields two to four bushels of seed an acre and timothy,
four to eight bushels. Practically all the hay is fed to work stock and cattle,
with a small part sold in local towns and some hay shipped to outside
markets. Large quantities of hay are imported from the West.

ALFALFA PASSES THE EXPERIMENTAL STAGE.

The growing of alfalfa has passed beyond the experimental stage, and
this promises to become the principal hay crop of the county. In 1909
there were seven thousand seven hundred twenty-two acres in alfalfa. The
crop does well both on the upland and on the well-drained bottom-land soils,
three and sometimes four cuttings being obtained each year, with a total
yield ranging from three to five tons per acre. Most of the crop is fed to
cattle and work stock, and some is used as hog pasturage. Alfalfa hay is not
shipped out of the county, except from a few farms where it is the main
cash crop. It is sent chiefly to Kansas City and St. Joseph, and sells for
twelve dollars to fifteen dollars a ton. The total value of hay and forage
crops is reported in the census of 1910 as five hundred thirty-two thousand
five hundred nineteen dollars.

The less important crops of Richardson county are potatoes, barley,
rye. kafir, sorghum, and buckwheat. Potatoes are reported in the 1910
census on nine hundred forty acres. The production is inadequate to meet
the local demand.

Trucking receives but little attention, owing to the distance from large
markets. Some vegetables are grown on a commercial scale near the cities
and \illages of the county. The 19 10 census reports the value of vegetables
produced in the county in 1909 as eighty-three thousand six hundred eighty-
two dollars.

Most of the farmers have small orchards of apple, plum, peach and
pear trees. These fruits do well when properly cared for, but owing to
lack of care the trees in most orchards are gradually dying and less apples
are produced now than ten years ago. There are several commercial orchards
in the county, mainly in the vicinity of Falls City and Shubert. Though the
blufi" zone of the Missouri river is admirably adapted to apples, it has tew

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 257

commercial orchards, owing to the fact that it is too far from railroad points.
In the vicinity of Shubert the apples are sold through the Central Fruit
Growers Association; in other localities they are sold direct by the producer.
Most of the apples are shipped to points in western Nebraska, Kansas, and
South Dakota.

Apples of the better grades are stored in Omaha for shipment at the
time of greatest demand. The culls are made into cider and vinegar, and
bring from twenty to thirty cents a hundred pounds. Graded apples sell for
an average of two dollars and fifty cents a barrel. The principal varieties
of apples grown are the Ben Davis, Winesap, Jonathan. Mammoth Black
Twig, Missouri Pippin, Grimes, York Imperial, Gano, Duchess, and
Wealthy. There are approximately eight hundred acres in commercial apple
orchards. Only a few pears are produced commercially. The value of all
orchard products, including small fruits and nuts, is given in the 1910
census as fifty-four thousand two hundred twelve dollars. The number of
apple trees is given as one hundred seventy-five thousand one hundred sev-
enty-nine, with about sixty-seven thousand peach trees and about thirty-
five thousand grapevines.

FIRST COMMERCIAL APPLE ORCHARD.

Elias Beaver, who came to Richardson county in the sixties established
the first commercial apple orchard on a farm six miles southwest of Falls
City. Mr. Beaver was a skilled orchardist and the success of his orchards
fully established the fact that very fine commercial apples could be success-
fully grown in this section of Nebraska.

The late Henry W. Shubert was the pioneer orchardist of the northern
part of the county and his son, A. G. Shubert, of Falls City, set out the
first apple trees in that part of the state in an orchard intended for commer-
cial purposes. The success of the Shubert orchards has induced others in
that section to plant orchards. Shubert Brothers have continued the work
started by their father and now have the largest orchard acreage in the
county and probably in the state of Nebraska. Their trees are cared for
scientifically and cultivation of the soil with staple crops is continued until
the trees are large enough to bear commercial crops of fruit.

Allan Franklin, of Barada, established a splendid orchard in Barada
precinct and the work is carried on b\' his sons, who are thorough-going
fruit men and orchardists who have made a pronouncetl and well-paving
(17)

2^» RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

success of the orchard business. The FrankHn orchards present a splendid
appearance at all seasons of the year and the crop outlook in this year
(1917) is gratifying. The fruit from the Franklin orchards commands a
ready sale at high prices.

In 1896 Henry C. Smith established an orchard which has been a pro-
nounced success. Napoleon DeMers has a hne small orchard in the north-
east section of Falls City — and there are many well kept small orchards
scattered about the eastern part of the county. However, it has been dem-
onstrated that the large, scientifically-kept commercial orchard pays best.

Weaver Brothers, A. J. and Paul B. Weaver, have two hundred acres
of bearing orchard, the output of which is sold to the same buyers year in
and year out at top prices. Weaver Brothers planted their first commercial
orchard in 1893 and their success has been well merited. Both A. J- and
Paul B. Weaver are recognized authorities on apple growing in this section
of the country and there is published in connection with this chapter an
address delivered by A. J- Weaver upon fruit growing at the Missouri Valley
Industrial and Farmers Congress in December, 19 14, which is a classic in
itself and ably portrays the methods used and jiecessary for the successful
cultivation of apple orchards. There is shipped from the Weaver Brothers"
orchards each year from fifty to seventy-five cars of select fruit to Minnesota
buyers in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Chicago. The fruit produced in these
orchards each year from fift\- to seventy-five cars of select fruit to
the famous orcliard country of the Northwest and brings equally high prices.
The value of the orchard products produced in the Weaver Brothers'
orchards will range from twenty-five to thirty thousand dollars annually,
and a force of skilled workers are constantly engaged in the orchards which
received the direct supervision of the owners.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Henry C. Smith was instrumental in organizing the first Horticultural
Societ}- in the count}" as early as 1872. The first meeting of the society,
with Mr. Smith as secretary, was held in the city hall on September 18
and i<) lit that year. A fine exhibit of fruits, jellies and flowers was made
l:.v the different fruit growers in the ciuuit}- and it was decided to hold
quai^terly meetings of the ^society.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 259

DAIRYING, LIVE STOCK AND POULTRY.

Dairying is receiving increased attention. Most of the fanners keep
dairy cows, chiefly Shorthorn grades. The number of cows per farm varies
from three to ten, with upward of forty on the dairy farms in the vicinity
of Falls City. A few farmers keep no dairy cows. J\Iost of the dairying is
carried on during the summer months, and in the winter not enough milk and
butter is produced for home use. Most of the cream is separated on the farm.
The surplus cream is shipped mainly to St. Joseph, and some is sent to Lin-
coln, Omaha, and Kansas City. The local creamery at Falls City handles
a small part of the cream. Some butter is made on the farms and sold at
local markets. The average price obtained for butterfat in the summer is
twenty-five to twenty-eight cents per pound, and in the winter thirty to thirty-
two cents. The 1910 census reports the total value of all dairy products,
excluding home use, as $124,021. The number of dairy cows on farms re-
porting dairy products is 6,726.

There are some herds of beef cattle, mostly on the farms in the south-
western part of the county, on areas of Rough stony land. The cattle are
mainly of Shorthorn and Hereford bi'eeding, though there are some herds
of Polled Durham. A number of farmers feed one or two carloads of
cattle, obtained from stockyards, with good returns. In other cases a few
head are fattened on the farm each year, and sold when prices are most
favorable. Alost of the beef cattle are marketed in St. Joseph and Kansas
City. The 1910 census reports 19,246 other cattle and 1.219 '^alve^ sold
or slaughtered.

Considerable attention is being paid to the breeding of farm and draft
horses. Nearly every farmer raises one or two colts each vear, and some
as many as six. In this way the farmers supply their own work stock, and
occasionally have a team to sell. The Percheron and Clydesdale are the fav-
orite breeds. About one-fourth to one-fifth of the colts are mules. The
census of 1910 reports a total of 1.848 horses and mules sold.

There are only a few flocks of sheep in the county, though some sheeji
are shipped in from Kansas Cit\- for feeding. There is one large goat
ranch, carrying about one thousand head, in the northeastern part of the
county, on the Knox silt loam. The iqio census re])orts 6.960 sheep and
goats sold or slaughtered.

The raising of hogs is the most important li\-e-stock industrv. Xearh
every farmer fattens from twenty-fi\-e to thirty hogs each year, and some as

26o RICHARIXSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

many as one hundred and fifty. On tenant farms not nearly so many hogs
are kept, which is also true of other Hve stock. Pork production is profitable,
though cholera is prevalent and reduces the profits considerably. Most of
tlie hogs are marketed in St. Joseph and Kansas City, and some in Omaha.
Xearlv everv farmer butchers enough hogs to supply the home with meat the
year round. Poland China, Duroc-Jersey, and Berkshire are the leading
breeds, though there are very few registered herds. According to the 19 lo
census 46,982 hogs were sold or slaughtered in 1909. The total value of
all animals sold and slaughtered is reported in the 1910 census as $1,875,319.
According to the same authority the total value of poultry and eggs
is $240,815. Practicallv ever\- farmer keeps a small flock of chickens, rang-
ing from forty to one hundred and fifty. Most of the eggs and poultry are
handled by the two poultry establishments at Falls City. The dressed chickens
are shipped mainly to Buffalo and New York. About thirty-two carloads
of chickens and ninety carloads of eggs are sln'pped out of Falls City each
}ear.

METHODS OF AGRICULTrRE.

Considerably more attention is paid to the adaptation of crops to the
different soils than ten years ago. The farmers realize that the Marshall
silt loam and Carrington silt loam are best suited to corns, wheat, oats
and grass. They recognize that the Knox silt loam and steep slopes of the
Shelby loam are best suited to alfalfa and for use as pasture. The Wabash
soils are generally recognized as well adapted to corn and less well suited
to the small grains, and the same is known to be true of the other l)ottom-
land txpes. The topography of the Rough stony land makes it suitable
only for grazing.

The stubble land generally is plowed in the fall, either for winter
wheat or corn. Corn land usually is li.sted and sometimes double listed
where the crop succeeds itself. If the field is put in oats, it is either double
disked or the oats are sowed broadcast between tlie rows of corn. \'aria-
tions and modifications of the alwve practices are common. It is necessary
to exercise considerably greater care in the preparation of the seed beds
on the heaxier tvpes of the countv. .\ little barnyard manure is used.
Tt is a])|)lied to corn or as a topdressing for winter wheat. .As a rule the
barn van! is cleaned twice a year, but on many farms a large part of the
manure is wasted. Green manuring is not practiced and scarcely any C(^m-
mercial fertilizers are used. According to the census of 1910,' the total ex-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 261

penditure for fertilizers in this county in 1909 was only six hundied and
twenty-six dollars, only six farms reporting their use.

The fann buildings, especially the houses, usually are well painted and
kept in good repair. There are many large, modern houses in the count}-.
The barns are usually small, but as a rule are substantial and well kept.
Hedge fences, established before the introduction of barbed wire, are com-
mon. Most of these consist of Osage orange. Most of the cross fences
and some boundary fences are of barbed wire, though woven wire is coming
into more general use.

The work stock consists mainly of medium-weight draft horses and
mules. There are only a few gasoline tractors in the county. On most
farms the four-horse hitch is used. The farm equipment consists of gang
or sulky plows, disk harrows, straight-tooth harrows, drills, listers, corn
planters, mowing machines, cultivators, rakes, hay loaders, stackers, binders.
and wagons. Thrashing-machines are favorably distributed for use by the
iarmers in all sections immediately after harvest.

Definite systems of rotation are followed by only a few progress! \e
farmers. The general tendency is to keep the land in corn two or three
years or even longer, following with one year of oats, and from one to
three years of wheat. Occasionally the wheat land is seeded to clover for
two or three years, and then planted to corn. Of late alfalfa is taking the
place of clover, and occupies the land from seven to ten years, or longer.
On farms where there is no permanent pasture, clover and timothy fields
usually are pastured the second year.

There is an adequate supply of farm labor, but it is rather difificult to
secure efficient help. The usual wage paid is twenty to thirtv-five dollars
a month with board and washing. Most of the laborers are hired from
March i to October i or December i, though a few farmers employ labor
by the year, because it is easier in this way to get efficient men. Where the\'
are hired only to October i the laborers are paid additional rates of three
to three and one-half cents a bushel for husking corn. The daily wage for
transient labor during han^est time ranges from two to three dollars per
day, with board. The farmers are beginning to hire married men with their
families, and the owners furnish them with tenant houses, milch cov/s.
chickens, gardens, and fruit. Under this plan the wages range from thirty
to forty dollars a month. Most of the farm work in the countv, however,
is performed by the farmers and tlieir families. The expenditure for la1x)r
in TQOQ was $314,735;.

262 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ANERAGE SIZE AND VALUE OF FARMS.

Most uf the farms in Richardson county contain one hundred and sixty
acres. There are a few as small as eighty acres, and several ranging from
four hundred to several thousand acres. According to the 1910 census,
about ninety-five per cent, of the area of the county is in farms, and of
the land in farms eighty-six per cent, is improved. The average size of
the farms is 157.9 acres. About fift\-three per cent, of the famis are oper-
ated by the owners and practically all the remainder by tenants. Both the
cash and share systems of renting, as well as a combination of the two, are
practiced, the share system being most popular. Cash rents vary from three
to six dollars an acre for general-farm land, depending largely on the char-
acter of the soil. Under the share system the owner receives two-fifths
to one-half the products of the farm when the tenant furnishes all imple-
ments and stock. Where the land is not so productive the owner furnishes
one-half the work stock and tools and there is an equal division of crops.
In the combination system of cash and share renting the permanent pastures
and lands not used for crops are rented for cash.

The value of farm land in Richardson county ranges from twenty to
two hundred dollars an acre, depending on the nature of the soil, the topog-
raphy, improvements, and distance from railroad points. The lowest-priced
land is in the blufT zone of the Missouri river, and the highest-priced in
the vicinity of Falls Cit\-. In the 19 10 census the average value of farm
land is reported as $80.71.

While there are man\- large farms in Richardson county and some
extensive land holdings the large estates which are farmed under the direct
supervision of their owners are small in number. Among the largest in-
dividual farmers of the county is Weaver Brothers, A. J. and P. B. Weaver,
who own and farm directly over three thousand acres of land located in
Richardson county. The land is farmed according to the latest scientific
agricultural methdds adapted to the land cultivated. .\ small army of men
is em|)l(iyed in the farm work and in this \ear (1917) sixty men are on
the pa\- roll, whicli will exceed $40,000 annuallv. Weaver Brothers market
from fifteen hundred to two thousand head of hogs annually and produce
and feed fur the market over five hundred head of cattle each vear.

RICHARDSON COl'XTV, XEBRASKA.

:he miles ranch.

263

The Miles ranch, located in the vicinity of Dawson, in a southerly di-
rection, embraces a total of five thousand acres of land operated in a body
as one great farm. This famous ranch was established by the late Col.
Stephen B. Miles in 1856 as a place to recuperate the hundreds of horses
and mules used in the mail and stage-route traffic conducted by Mr. Miles
for years by contract with the United States government. It was the first
of the great ranches established west of the Missouri river and is now owned
by Joseph H. Miles, son of the founder.

The Miles ranch house is one of the best-built farm houses in this section
of Nebraska and the materials which went into the making of the residence
were obtained from the forests along the banks of the Nemaha river by
the builder. The Miles house is built entirely of native lumber, cut and
finished on the place ; and everything about the construction of the residence
is of native materials, even to the stair rails, the newel posts and the inside
woodwork, which is of native hardwood. At the time this residence was
completed, in 1867, there were no railroads for transportating material, and
the windows, doors and shingles of the building were transported from St.
Louis by boat and then hauled to the ranch.

One of the finest barns in the country, built entirely of native lumber
and stone obtained on the ranch is found on tlie Miles ranch. This barn
is modeled after the famous Pennsylvania ■type of bank -barn and no nails
whatever are used in its construction. The timbers are morticed and fastened
together with wooden pins. The barn is in a remarkable state of preserva-
tion, notwithstanding the fact that it was Iniilt in 1861 bv the late S. B.
Miles.

Twelve ranch or tenant houses are located on the farm for the housing
of the present tenants, and which were used up to three years ago ( 1914),
for the housing of the many hands who were employed in doing tlie ranch
work. The ranch is equipped with its own private grain elevators and water
system, a stand pipe having been erected which would do credit to a small
town, and gives sufficient pressure to reach the tops of the highest build-
ings. The water supply is obtained from wells and an immense cistern,
having a capacity of two thousand barrels.

Since 1914 the ranch has been in cliarge of Stephen Miles, son
of the owner and the farm lands which are cultivated for tlie raisin"- of

264 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

grain crops have been farmed on the share system. Prior to 1914, the
ranch was ojjerated in an entire body by Joseph H. Miles, the owner.

The ranch proper consists of five thousand acres in all, although ]\Ir.
Miles's holdings in the county total fifteen thousand acres in all. Fifteen
hundred acres of the land is planted jearly to corn and produce from forty
to sixty bushels of corn to the acre, making an average total of over seventy-
five thousand bushels yearly. This year (191 7) there has been harvested
five himdred acres of wheat, which produced from twenty to forty-eight
bushels of grain to the acre, or an average of thirty-five bushels to the
acre, making a total of seventeen thousand five hundred bushels of wheat.
Three hundred acres were sown to oats, which produced from forty to si.xty
bushels to the acre. One hundred acres of barley were harvested, which
gave a good yield. F(3ur hundred acres of tame hay or timothy were cut.
which yielded fifteen hundred tons. The ranch has over three hundred acres
of natural growth timber, which furnishes all the lumber used in erecting
new buildings or .sheds and making repairs. There are fifteen hundred acres
of pasture land. The ranch is bisected by the south fork of the Nemaha
river, which causes the only waste land in the entire ranch. The private
Miles drainage ditch was only recently completed (in July, 191 7). for a
distance of three miles through the ranch bottom lands, at a cost of nearly
twenty thousand dollars.

Three hundred head of fine fat cattle are marketed yearly from the
rancli, all of which are thoroughbred stock such as Hereford. Shorthorn
and .\ngus breeds. From one thousand to fifteen hundred hogs of the
Poland China and Duroc -Jersey breeds are marketed annually. The ranch
has always prided itself in producing only pure bred stock.

THE MARGRAVE RANCH.

Tiie Margrave ranch, consisting of several thousantl acres of land in
the southeastern part of the county and in Brown county, Kansas, was
established by the late W. .\.. Margrave and is operated by the Margrave
Corporation, under the direct supervision of William A. and James Mar-
grave. The shipping headquarters of the ranch are located at Preston and
the ranch proper is located a few miles east and south of Preston.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 265

ORCHARDING.

Address made by Hon. A. .J. Weaver, of Falls City, before the Missouri Valley Industrial
and Farmers' Congress, held at St. Joseph, Missouri, in December, 1914, and later
given before the State Horticultural Association at Lincoln. Nebraska, and printed
in Horticultural journals and widely published as the best article on scientific apple
grovi'ing ever presented in the middle west.

Ladies aud Gentlemen: Bill Nye once said ttiat he was not much of a spealver,
liimself, but that he was a good extemporaneous listener, aud after the interesting and
instructive addresses already made to this congress, I would prefer to continue as a good
listener; and I feel that in attempting your further instruction I am but illustrating
Joseph's dream, that after the feast came the famine. However, as one deeply inter-
ested in the puiposes of this congress, I am glad to join in this wonderful conservation
movement, aud today I want to congratulate St. Joseph uix)n placing at the head of this
movement Col. R. M. Bacheler, who is a real benefactor of your city. For months, when
he should have been thinking of his own business, his own pleasure and comfort, he has
been siJending weary hours for the success of this congress. Such men are never repaid,
only in the consciousness of a public duty well performed. How well Colonel Bacheler's
duty has been performed toward St. Joseph, and the great country tributary to it, the
success of this meeting attests.

CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVE IN CHARACTER.

There is in attendance here, and uix>u this program, representatives of every imiwr-
tant business aud industry in the Missouri valley, from high railroad officials to bankers
and farmers. And we are particularly pleased to learn that the great railroad systems
in the Middle West are interested in the work of this congress. A few years ago the.se
railroads were in politics, and at this time of the year vvere guardians of our I.«gislatures
and were electing our United States senators. Today they are strictly in legitimate busi-
ness. They are sending out demonstration trains for better grain, grasses and live stock,
promoting good roads aud assisting materially in the uplift of agriculture, and in e.\tend-
ing the limits of this empire of wealth and prosperity. The attendance of W. C. Brown,
ex-president of the New York Central Railroad, and the trained experts of the different
railroads, clearly demonstrate that we are entering upon a new era.

ST. JOSEPH, THE NATURAL CENTER.

Repeating what I said to this congress last year, it is proper that St. Joseph, Mis-
souri, should be the center of this new movement in the Missouri valley ; St. Joseph,
the inspiration and life of the early histoiy of the Sliddle AVest, where the first pony
exiDress started blazing the trail westward across the continent ; St. Joseph, the stay
and support of this great valley when reverses and set-backs came, and now the leader
and first on the firing line of this new movement; St. Joseph, full of romance and his-
tory, full of wealth and conservatism, yet as full of real men and progress, combining
enough of the Xew England spirit, the old life of the South, the newer life of the free
West, and the real spirit of the age, to make it the magnificent center of this great agri-
cultural empire. St. Joseph, our banking, live-stock and mercantile center, we thank
you for this congress aud for the hospitality extended to ns.

NATT-RE MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN.

It has been lieautifully sjiid that •'Nature makes the whole world kiu." aud not long
ago, as I looked out of my window from the eighth .story of your beautiful hotel. 1

266 RICIIAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

thought how true this was. I saw the smoke rising from a liuiuUetl smoliestacks, rei)re-
senting the industrial life of this city. I saw the smolce from tlie railroad yards and
the great paoking plants of South St. Joseph. I looked back of these and saw nestling
in the wooded slopes churches and school houses and homes. Back of these, for hun-
dreds of miles, I knew extended fertile farms, the basis of all our wealth ; and I thought
how everything went back to nature and the soil and how all these things were dependent
one upon the other. Tour industries would he silent, your railroads would become dis-
used streaks of rust if it were not for these farms surrounding you. On the other hand,
without these great railroads, which are the arteries of commerce and trade, and these
packing plants, which are the farmers market, agriculture would stagnate, in fact it
would never have been born upon these prairies.

AMERICAN PEACE AND EUROPEAN WAR.

Then I contrasted all this peace and progress and prosperity with the conditions
across the water, where half the world is at war, where nation grapples at the throat
of nation, where men are mere pawns of monaix'hs and where human life and property,
by the thousands and tens of thousands, are being daily swallowed up in the terrible
vortex of war.

It is said that Confucius, the great Chinese statesman, once traveled in a distant
part of the empire which was infested with ferocious wild beasts. One day he came
upon a woman weeping bitterly and stopping to inquire the cause of her grief, learned
that her husband had recently been killed by a tiger. "Why," asked the Chinaman, "do
you remain in a province infested with such danger?" "We have a good governuient
here," was the woman's reply. "Behold," exclaimed the sage, "a bad government is
more to be feared than the rapacious tiger." Today in peaceful and prosperous America
we can exclaim with the Chinese sage: "A bad government is more to be feared than
the rapacious tiger." For fifty years every farmer in Europe has carried a soldier on his
back. Today he struggles with the weight of two or three, and next year, or the next,
when this cruel war is over, and the terrible and appalling cost in men and treasure is
reckoned, the load will be intolerable; for his nation, whether victor or vanquished, will
be hopelessly in debt and its citizen, nominally free, will be a tax vassal for a lunidred
years to come.

AMERICA FORTUNATE IN HEB ISOLATION.

America, fortunate in her isolation, doubly fortunate in her form of government
and the genius of her people, thrice fortunate in her wonderful resources of mines and
forests and fields; practically free from debt, with the wholesome inclination to spend
her resources for better homes and better food, for agricultural and other colleges, for
better roads and the hundreds of other things conducing to her happiness and prosijerity.
rather than upon vast armaments and navies ! America, wonderful America I We. a
handful of your peaceful citizens, engaged today in St. Joseph, in quiet conference con-
cerning the pursuits of peace, salute you as truly the "Land of the free and home of the
brave.". The land of the free, because we are free from the military systems of the old
world, and because we, the people, are the real sovereigns, and our public officials our
servants, and not our master.s. The land of the brave, because we are brave enough to be
just to every man beneath our flag, and every nation on earth. Our flag has floated over
Cuba and Mexico, but not for conquest. It is the emblem of iieace on eartli and good
will to men, and when its mission in foreign lands is performed, it comes home with all
the honor and dignity and justice which it took .-iway.

My friends, you will pardon this digression from the sul>ject assignetl nic. but 1 li.ive

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 267

merely mentioued these tbiugs to emiiliusize the traiuiuility miuI prosperity, wbiili we as
a nation are enjoying, and for whicb we should be thankful. In this connection I might
add that this conference represents a territory which iu size and wealth would be an
empire in Europe. Each of its magnificent counties would be a principality. In fertility
of soil, iu climate, in the character and intelligence of its people, the Missouri Valley
country Is the equal of the best of Europe. In population we are deficient, but popula-
tion Is fast increasing and to meet this added responsibility we are iu conference today
as an Intelligent citizenship, to devise the best ways and means for Hie future of our
industrial and. farming activities.

THE CRIME OF AURICULTITRE.

The past is gone, and with it its train of mistakes. One of these was in mining our
soil instead of farming it, in selling its fertility at wholefsale In grain Instead of in con-
centrates of meat. Another was in neglecting clover, alfalfa and the other legumes.
Another was iu allowing out lands to be gullied and washed into the sea. Another was
in trying to produce beef and pork on much coru and little roughage. Another was in
planting orchards, then allowini,' the cattle, hogs and Insects to destroy them. Another
was in raising wheat year after year on the same laud, and then corn, year after year
on the same land. Coburn of Kansas, in referring to the average of thirteen to fifteen
bushels per acre on Kansas wheat land once said. "Men write of the 'Shame of Cities" and
the 'Crime of Society,' but this Is the 'Crime of Agriculture"." These old methods were
sad mistakes, and were indeed costly, not only to the individual, but to the aggregate
wealth of the community. And today we congratulate ourselves and the country that
we are teaching and practicing better ways.

We know now that we nnist farm and husband the land instead of mining It. We
liuow now that if we would preserve the fertlity of the soil, we must handle live stock
and market our crops In the form of beef and ikh-U and mutton. We know now that
clover and alfalfa are as necessary to the life of our laud as red blood is to the life of
our bodies. We know now what nitrogen and humus .ire. and that they are the soil's
capital. We know now that lands which wash away ue\er return, and that ugly ditches,
like ugly wounds, are not only unsightly, but are sometimes fatal. Fields have been
ruined by being gullied and washed to pieces. Xature"s remedy is grass. We know now
that cornstalks in a silo are better for the fanner and his herds than cornstalks in
winter-swept and suow-bound fields: and that we must save this and all other roughage,
if we are to handle live stock successfully on high-priced land. We know now that the
hog is a grazing animal and that alfalfa should be on his bill of fare the year round.
He should not only have alfalfa pasture from April to November, but should be fed
alfalfa hay the rest of the year in racks, the same as cattle. We know that while the
hog is growing we should furnish him with this cheap iirotein ration, but that when he is
fattening on a full feed of coru, .ilfalfa hay should be suiiplementetl with a coueeutrated
protein ration in the form of tankage. Feed a hog all the alfalfa he will eat and at the
present price of corn you cut off tweuty cents on ever.\- bushel. We know now that every
hog-yard should have its cement feeding floor, for every bushel of corn fed on a feeding
floor saves a pound of pork. We know now that lice and worms are the two greatest
enemies of the hog raiser, and that these are easily controlled. We know that the great
hog scourge can be prevented by vaccination, and that the man who proiJerly guards his
hogs need spend no sleepless nights on account of hog cholera. These observations are
made from some cxiierionce in the hog business. Weaver Brothers raise two thousand
hogs every year, and we believe that bogs and alfalfa are the mr>st profitable combina-
tions on the farm.

268 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Yes, we used to tbink that aiiybixly couUl l>e a fanner. We kuow l)etter uow. It
requires as luiR-b or more braius to farm successfully as it does to succeed in any
other business. We used to think that we had to sow and reap like our fathers. We
know better uow. We eveu change our owu methods in the light of our own experience.
We used to think that orchards were planted to grow snialJ. imperfect and .scabby apples.
We know better uow. A new age is here, and, regardless of our (X"cupations, we
should be iu sympathy with it. Xo matter what our'vocation, we are all farmers in
this country, in the sense that it is our one great community business and asset.
Farming is the basis of all wealth, and especially in the Middle West, and we should
doff our hats to the modern, uivto-date farmer, and accord to him the dignity and
worth he merits as one of our most useful citizens.

OBCHABDIXG.

I have been requested to deliver at this session^ a brief address upon orcharding
in the Missouri valley. While I am but incidentally engaged iu raising apples, and
would rather talk about hogs and alfalfa, silos and cattle raising and general conservation
of the soil, yet orcharding, and particularly apple raising, is a great industry in this
section, and if given the s;ime attention as grain or live-stock farming, would become a
notable industry and highly profitable. I make this statement from my own observations
of the orchard business in the Missouri valley, and i)articularly my experience iu
southeastern Nebraska, where Weaver Brothers own and control and operate over
two hundred acres of apple orchard. We produce annually from thirty-five to one
hundred ear-loads of apples, aud sell ou an average more thau twenty thousand dollars
worth of apples each year. These orchards will produce annually a net average revenue
of ten thousand dollars a year or fifty dollars an acre. This takes into consideration
the original investment, the frost damage in occasional years aud unfavorable seasons,
both as to production aud markets. The average orchard in this section and particularly
the small orchard, is not profitable, aud on the ordinary farm may be considered as a
liability instead of an asset. This is because of the failure to properly care for the
same. Success iu the orchard business will come only with proper cultivation, fertiliza-
tion, pruning, .spraying, proiier grading, and reasonable ability to market the crop. In
other words, commercial apple raising is a business and must be handled on business
principles, if it is to succeed. An orchard handled in this way will not only yield a
nice profit, but will afford a great deal of pleasure to the man engaged iu it. The
apples produceil in this section are the equal, if not the superior, iu flavor and quality
of any produced in the United States, and the fruit from sprayed and cared-for oi'chards
is eagerly sought by the buyers for the best city markets.

Fortunately the values of our best apple lands, which .ire the hill or bluff laiiils
adjacent to the Mi.ssouri river, have never been inflated and can be purchase<l from
fifty to one hundred twenty-five dollars au acre. Fpoii this Ii.-isis orcharding Is a
safe business venture, particularly so wheu we consider the inflated values of orchard
land in the irrigated sections, from which points the freii-'lit rate to Minneapolis ami
Chicago is as much per bushel box .-is it is for a tbroc-li\islicl barrel from St. .Joseiili u>
the same markets.

A large fruit dealer from .Minneapolis, who has just returned from the ra<ifii-
coast, and who is familiar with every detail of the .■ipple-marketing bu.siness told me
last September, that the orchardists of the Missouri valley, who es<'aped the expense of
irrigation and the exiiensive long haul, were the masters of the apple situation, and
that all that was uecessju-)- to the highest success was proper methods. I might add
that the highest compliment I have ever had, as au orchardist. was paid uje when this

RICHARnSOX COL'XTY, NEBRASKA. 269

man, iiitrocUioecl uie to two large orclianlists of the Yakima valley, Washiugtou, .as
one of the very few men in the southwest who knew how to raise and pack apples.
These two men, one of them an ex-superior court judge, were in Minneapolis to sell
their crop of Western box apples. I dou't know what success they had, but after a
thirty-miuute conference with the fruit merchant, I sold him thirteen cars of Nebraska
apples, and have in previous years in less time, sokl him as many as thirty cars, and
always at a satisfactory price. Our apples are sold year after year to the same parties,
on the same basis as your grain merchant sells No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3 wheat and corn,
and with no dispute over the grades and quality. liaising apples under these conditions
in the Missouri valley, where natural conditions are almost ideal, makes the business
a desirable one. 1 will now discuss the essentials necessary for the production of good
apples, as practiced in our own orchards.

SPRAYING.

We spray our orchards thoroughly. We siiray three, and sometimes four times
during the season. The first is the dormant spray, before any foliage has appeared,
with either Bordeaux mixture or lime and sulphur. We prefer the lime and sulphur.
We use Bordeaux spray after the foliage appears, as it produces a rusty appearance of
the apple, especially ou the Ben Davis variety. These sprays are used as a fungicide,
controlling all diseases of a foreign nature, such as scab, scale and kindred diseases.
For the dormant spray one gallon of lime and sulphur should be u.sed with twelve to
fourteen gallons of water. Where Bordeaux is used it should consist of four pounds
of copper sulphate, four pounds of lime and fifty gallons of water.

The next most important spraying is what is known as the blos.som spray, which
is a combination of lime and sulphur and arsenate of lead, the arsenate of lead being
the recognized insecticide for all leaf-eating insects, and the one great apple pest,
the codling moth. This sjiray is made by using lime and sulphur diluted, one to
thirty-five, into which is added three pounds of arsenate of lead to fifty gallons of
water. This spray should be applied with a pressure of from two hundred to two
hundred and fifty ix)uuds so that the poison spray will be forced into the calyx cup
of every blossom. The spray nozzles should be attached to the siiray rod with a
forty -five degree elbow, so that every blossom eau be reached from any angle.

The man handling the spray rod is the "man behind the gun." Carelessness and
indifference here may cost an orchardist hundreds of dollars. Every inside and top
blossom should be reached. To do this continuous driving with the sprayer is impossible.
The machine should be stopped at each tree so that thorough work can be done. If the
blossom spraying is not thorough and complete, the apples will be wormy, no matter
how many sprayings you give later. I will briefly explain the reason for this,

The codling moth is of a browni.sh color and about one-half inch in length. It
deposits its eggfe on the bark of the tree and on its foliage shortly after the ]ietals of
the blossom falls. These eggs are white specks about the size of a small pin head.
Tiny worms which hatch from these eggs gradually work their way to the small apples
and through the cal,vx cup mto the apple core. If the spraying has been thorough
this calyx cup is full of poison and the little worm dies from poison food without getting
into the apple.

In this latitude there are generally two broods of these worms, the second brood
appearing in from forty to sixty days after the first. This brood conies from the full-
grown worms surviving from the first. After about three weeks spent in the apple
these survivors come out. seek a biding place and here spin cocoons and change to

lyo

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

a chrysalis. From tbis comes again the codling moth, then the eggs, then the brood
of worms.

In the South, and sometimes here, this operation is repeated a third time, hence
more spraying is necessary in some sections and seasons than iu others. In this latitude
we have been able to control the moth with two poison sprays, one immediately following
the first at the time of the calyx spray. This catches the late bloom and also any of the
earlier bloom missed in the first application.

To spray successfully and economically, the orchardist should provide himself with
a first-class high-power spraying outfit. We use in our orchards seven iwwer machines,
one New Beau machine, with a magueto and six Cushmaus, manufactured in St. Joseph,
Missouri.

PRUNING.

Next in importance iu the care of an orchard is systematic and heavy pruning. Do
not do it all in oue year, but do part of it every year. Keep the tops cut bade, the
center cleaned out and the lower branches cut away, so that the air and sunshine will
be admitted. After doing this have your pruners take stepladders and go around the
tree, thinning the sides of the tree which are liable to become too bushy. This side
trimmiug is very important, a lesson which we have learned within the last few years.
In this connection, however, I would caution the orchardist against cutting away too
many side branches on the south and west. These parts of the tree get enough sun in
any event to properly color the fruit and too much pruning on the south and west
may subject the limbs and trunk of the tree to injury from the hot summer sun. We
keep all water sprouts out of the trees by sending a foreman with eight or ten boys
through the orchard, the last of June each year, and with gloved hands all sprouts
are rubbed off with no injury to the tree, and at small expense.

In pruning leave no stubs as these are a source of infection from disease and borers.
Stubs do not heal readily as the wound is too far from the sap circulation of the tree.
Many orchards have been ruined and are being ruined by the stubs left in pruning.
The limbs should be taken off close to the trunk or at the fork. Paint every wound
at once, that means within two or three days. If you allow the wood to dry and
check you have left an opening for disease, insects and the weather. We have always
used white lead and oil, colored with lamp black, to produce the tree-trunk color.
The last two seasons we used a pruning compound, an asiili.ilt paint, which h.id been
recommended to us, and found it very satisfactory.

We prune only in May and June, and iu any event ncit l;\tcr tli;ni the middle of
July. These are ideal mouths, both for healing and painting. In tlie winter tinii'
wounds cannot always be proni]itly i)ainteil .-ukI :ire siili.i(H-t to the killing ]irncess of
zero weather.

After a tree is put in shai)e and proiwrly triunned, a little work each year will
keep it in good condition. I would urge on every orchardist the necessity of making
pruning secondary only to spraying. AVe have learned that we caiuiot grow both wood
and good fruit on the same tree. We have .ilso learned that fancy ,i|iiiles do not grow
in dense foliage.

Crl.TIV-\TION- AND FERTILIZATION.

As spraying and pruning are the Siamese twins ut' orcharding. «i are culliv.ition
and fertilization likewise twins in the same family
are well colored, fair size and free from worms
but you will have larger apples, more of them an
year by adding proper cultivation and fertilization.

on can grow good

apples

))runing and spra;

ving pr.

inie nearer raising

a croi.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 27 1

We use tlie ordinary disk as soou as the ground is dry and free from frost and tlicii
harrow after every rain. This keeps a dust mulch in the orchard aud conserves all the
moisture. This cultivation should be kept up until the middle of July, even until the
first of August. If there is any sod in the orchard this should be plowed up, and then
the disk and harrow used.

Every bearing orchard should be systematically fertilized. We use the ordinary
barnyard manure every year, where available. When not, we use nitrate of soda and
get even better results. Tliis year we used a carload of nitrate of soda purchased of
Swift & Company, St. Joseph. Some day we expect to have a soil analysis made in all
our orchards aud then supply only those elements in which we are deficient. We have
secured excellent results, however, from the ordinary manure. A few years ago we
manured, heavily, ten acres in one orchard. Since then we have noticed the increased
yield and superior quality to the very tree row. This was the best investment we
ever made in the orchard business.

We contend that by conserving the moisture by cultivation, aud feeding the tree.-i
by fertilization we can raise apples every year, barring loss by frost. We have been
raising apples every year from the same trees for the last three years and if we can
continue this for the next three years, will be quite sure that this continued production
is from proper cultivation and fertilization.

By spraying and pruning, the tree is kept healthy and vigorous; by cultivation and
fertilization, there is enough moisture and strength of soil to set healthy and strong
fruit buds every year.

CURRY THE TREES.

Each spring the hanging bark on the trunk and limbs of the trees should lie removed.
This should be done just before the dormant spray. This clinging bark furuishes a
breeding place for insects, worms and disease. For its removal we use the ordinary
mud currycomb, the surface of which has no sharp points but consists of circular pieces
of corrugated tin. These can be purchased at any hardware store and are the best
things we have found for this work.

DOREBS AKl) C.VNKER.

The old uncared-for orchards in this country are dying as if by an eiiideniic. Some
day we will wake up and find that the only orchards which are left are the commercial
orchards, which have received proiJer ca.re and attention. The flat- and round-headed
borers are doing this deadly work. P^ach sununer we go through our orchards and cut
away all diseased parts, dig out the borers and cvit away the affected part back to
the live wood and bark, disinfect the wouuds with Bordeaux mixture and paint the wounds.

The round-headed borer works in the wood, the flat-headed borer works between the
wood and the bark and keeps killing back the bark. Poor pnining. esiiecially where stubs
.ire left, is responsible for much of the trouble from borers.

There is also considerable Illinois canker in the orchards of this territory, which
esiiecially affects the Ben Davis. The same treatment is recommended and by use of the
Bordeaux spray at the dormant stflte, and the use of lime and sulphur, combined with
arsenate of lead, as a summer .spray, it is claimed that the ravages of this new disease
can lie kept in check. We have thoroughly tried this treatment and in normal years had
fair success, but the last two dry seasons have .shown the weakness of such trees, aud
where a tree is much affected, we recommend its destruction.

The planting of an orchard should be with great care as to distance between the trees
and the selection of varieties. Apple trees should be planted forty feet apart and upon

2.-J2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

good ricli ground. This will eiwble the trees to develop to good size aud give room for
work iu the orehanl. There is also sutHcieut room to grow crops between the rows during
the productive iieriod, aud thus raise the orchard at small expense.

As to the selections of varieties, 1 would plant one-sixth Winesap, one-sixth Jonathan,
one-sixth Delicious, one-sixth Grimes Golden, one-sixth Blaektwig and one-sixth Ben Davis.
In a small orchard it might be advisjible to increase the Jonathan and Winesjip. but in
a larger orchard I would limit these varieties, on account of their propensity to drop
before the proper packing season. The .separate varieties should be planted in separate
blocks on account of economy in picking and packing.

The figures I have given in this address as to the production and returns of our
orchards are based on the Ben Davis variety, nine-tenths of our trees being Ben Davis, and
we never regretted this proportion, notwithstanding the i)rojudice existing in some sections
against the Ben Davis apple. On account of the serious ravages of Illinois canker during
the last two dry seasons, however, we would not lie enthusiastic about planting too many
of this variety.

The Ben Davis is really .1 high-class commercial apple. The Ben Davis may be an
inferior apple in the East, but in the Jllssouri valley it grows to perfection, attains size
and color, has few superiors as a cooking apple, is a large and regular producer, and
packs, ships and stores better than any apple that we can raise.

The foregoing observations on orcharding are but the essentials of this important
industry. There are many other interesting phases of this business, but I will not discuss
them owing to lack of time. One thing, however, I would emphasize, and that is that
profitable fruit crops are not the gifts of Providence any more than the other crops we
grow.

In conclusion. I desire to say th.-it orcharding in the Jlissouri valley country is but in
its infancy, and that the time will come when the famous orchards tributary to the
.Missouri river will be famed the world over, and their fruit will not only add wealth
to the owners and this section, but will bring health and happiness to iieoples who are
not so fortunately situated as we are.

APPLE ORCHARDS.
From the FalU City Journal. December 12. 1912.

Who had the honor of planting the first fruit tree in Richardson county
has not been recorded in the annals of the pioneers. The presumption is
fair that some of the ox-teams that treked covered wagons into this section
in 1855, holding all the hopes and possessions of the incoming settlers, had
stowed awav some plants, herbs and small fruit trees from the home land.
\\'hile manv of the new homeseekers and makers were from distant states
and lands, tliere were many also from nearby Missouri, sections of wliich had
been settled from thirty to fifty years and already enjoyed some of the
home comforts that come with the possession of a fruitful orchard. How-
ever, after the start was made a few years only were required to find sdine
fruit trees growing near the dwelling house of the thrifty citizens. Of
course, there were those who had been born to the inheritance of a nomadic
and shiftless frontier sort of life, who failed to plant even the cottonwood

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 2-/}^

and box-elder aud seemed to prefer the bleakness of the wind-swept prairie
to the groves and orchards that soon sprang up around the buildings of the
settlers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New England. No
thought was given to commercial orchards at that early day. The plaritings
were of a few trees to a very few acres. This land was too remote from
markets to think of anything but trying to supply the needs of tlie planters.
The Germany colony that settled in the wooded hills along the IMissouri
river and founded the town of Arago, in 1858, were impressed with the
idea that where forest trees grew so luxuriantly that fruit trees would also
do well. They had occasion to remark the abundance of wild fruits such
as crab apples, plums, pawpaws, cherries, haws, mulberries, grapes, straw-
berries, gooseberries and many other kinds, and after the first year's expe-
rience in farming in 1859 or i860 sent to Buffalo, New York, from whence
they had come, for fruit trees. The treasurer and general agent of the
Arago colony at the time was Hon. Gust Duerfeldt, Sr., still residing at the
age of eighty-5ix on the farm he settled upon in Barada township in 1858.
It was through him that the trees were purchased from the eastern nurser}'
and he may be regarded as the first fruit-tree agent in the county. A
number of farmers planted small orchards from the trees so obtained, some
of the trees are yet alive and producing fruit, but most of the trees were
of varieties that did not respond to the change in climate and soil and have
long since been displaced for varieties that proved better adapted to the
new situation. While the settlers along the ^lissouri river bluft"s took early
to the planting of fruit trees, the people who were forced to take the open
prairie lands, because all the wooded hills had been gobbled up by the first
comers, were in doubt about trees doing well and because of this doubt
and the high price of the trees and the lack of money were much slower in
starting.

INFLUENCE OF DOWN-EAST FARMERS.

There was not much done towards planting small orchards on these
prairie lands until after the new settlers began to pour in from the country
east of the Mississippi river, about 1870. Then in a few years it was not
difficult to tell the homestead of a man who was born and reared on the
frontier from one of the down-east farmers, who surrounded his buildings
with fruit trees and groves and settled down to grow up with the ccnuitry
and develop its agricultural and horticultural possibilities, while the fron-
(18)

274 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

tier's man liad it in his blood to love cows, ponies, dogs, and herds, and nearly
always had a ramshackled, run down, shiftless, treeless sort of a surround-
ing to his habitation. Between the planting of an orchard and the eating
of fruit therefrom from five to ten years intervened and it was back to old
.Missouri in the neighborhood of St. Joseph that many an early settler went
with a load of corn to exchange for apples before his own began to produce.
This trading of corn and wheat and money for Missouri apples went on
from the settlement of the country to 1880, with this difference, that after
about 1875, the Missourians came with loaded wagons seeking a market
and Init few from this county crossed the Missouri river seeking fruit.
About 1880 the local orchards were able to supply the home trade, but
for some years longer wagon-loads of Missouri apples went through this
c(nmty seventy-five to one hundred and fifty miles west to the newer settle-
ment where fruit was scarce: but after a while the Missouri apples and
the apple wagons disappeared and the Nebraskan who wanted apples came
to Richardson county and, finding all and more than he could carry away,
returned home ladened, spreading the news of a new land of Egypt to
which all might come and be satisfied, with fruit. It was probably this
wagon traffic in apples that attracted the attention and induced some to
plant larger orchards, believing that for many years, and perhaps always,
there would be a market for this fruit in the semi-arid portions of this state.
The farm journals, nursery men, tree agents and agricultural lecturers, at
least since 1875. had persistently preached the planting of trees and orchards.
This free advice had some effect, for there were but few fanns on which
an orchard of some size was not planted, but it was not until about i8go.
or later that rirchards of much size were planted in this county. Then there
was an era of planting, but after several years it was apparent that there
was considerable labor and care necessary to start an orchard: that there
were hail storms, insects, rabbits, mice, weeds and droughts to fight and
guard against and loss of grain crops on the land set apart for orchards,
and the enthusiasm for this method of getting rich quick and without work,
lessened and has never been regained. Then as the orchards grew and
began to come into bearing there was an occasional frost or an unsea-
sonable vear when the fruit was poor, undeveloped, wormy and unsalable.
.-md in the vears when there was a good crop the markets were overstocked
and the pvke was so low that the (Orchard was a burden and many were
tempted to uproot them. :is a few did.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 275

CONSERVATION OF ORCHARDS.

With the muhiplication of bearing trees the insects and fungus enemies
increased and it appeared that the growing of apples was destined to be
an unprofitable business, but just then a new light dawned on the owners
of a few orchards. They had heard of spraying and they took the trouble
of going to see what other orchards had done both East and West, and
were convinced that spraying was necessary to produce salable fruit. The
late Henry C. Smith was one of the first to undertake spraying. Congress-
man Pollard had government experts sent here to demonstrate the benefits.
Slowly the idea soaked in so that now no one expects to raise first class
apples without spraying. Then along came a dry, hot year and notwith-
standing the spraying the fruit was inferior, lacking both size and quality,
then it occurred to Smith that the fruit grower in the arid region not only
sprayed his trees but also cultivated the soil and conserved the moisture.
He acted upon the theory that such a plan might also be of advantage here.
The first year's trial dispelled all doubt. From that demonstration, both
spraying and cultivation have come to be accepted dogma with up-to-date
orchardists. The Weaver and Smith orchards have ))een through very dry
seasons, in both 1911 and 1912, yet the fruit was full}' developed and un-
injured by the drought, whereas the uncultivated orchards in the same lo-
cality produced small, defective apples, although they were sprayed.

But there is still something more that is necessary for rm orchardist
to understand, if he is going to get any profit. He must have the business
capacity to sell his product for what it is worth, for, of what avail is it
to him to prune, spray, cultivate and grow a perfect apple and then sell
it to some scalper at the price of cider apples. Ex}>erience, organization
and a selling combination, among fruit growers in this locality, will take
care of that after a while. It has been said that Richardson countv alone
produced more car-loads of apples than some of the Northwestern states
whose fame is world wide as apple producers. In igii six hundred cars
were shipped out, while TQ12 has a record of one thousand cars. There
are several differences to l)e taken into account in considering the capacity
of Richardson county to produce apples, in comparison with a Northwestern
state that grows its apples under irrigation in favored spots on hill tops
adjacent to deep valleys that drain the frosty air into their recesses and allow
the hill tops to escape harm. The valley lands here are unsuitable as orchard
sites also, but the whole of Richardson countv is in the rain 1>elt and all is eood

2Jtj RICiiARDSOX COUXTY, XEBR.\SKA.

apple land except the rive^valley^. and so far as expansion of the business
is concerned it would be easier for Richardson county to produce tiity
thou?aiid cars of apples in a year than it would for Oregon. Idaho or Utah,
for the acreage in those states that is suited for apples is verv- restricted
because of lack of water and suitable land in juxtaposition.

After it is all said and dtme there is no better place to embark in
the apple business than right here, for the same amount of attention and
care devoted to orcharding will produce as g<X)d an apple as is grown any-
where in the \\'est: then this localir\- has the advantage of nearness to
large markets and less expensive maintenance charges in the way of water,
tax and fertilizer. It is quite as necessar}- to fertilize the soil in an orchard
here as an}-where. if good crops of fruit are to be expected yearly. The
experience of the most successful apple producers show that ^-igorous growth
in the tree can be maintained that way and this vigor is what tells in the
qualitv- and quantity- of the fruit.

The most persistent and difficult to eradicate of all the enemies of
the apple tree is the borer. Sprapng and prmiing help some in the control
of this pest anil danger, but a close examination of each tree is necessarv- to
locate the borer and he must be dug out and the wound treated scientifi-
cally or great injiuA- follows and death results, if the borer is allowed to
work out his life hisior\- in that tree and girdle it. Many imagine that orchards
are subject to other ailments, but the holding of such opinions is the result
of incomplete invesrigati«^. The borer is at the bottom of it when a tree
dies in this counrv- from other than accidental causes.

DR-MXAGE OF 0\"ERFLOW 1_\XDS.

Previous to the digging of the drainage ditches through the rich bot-
ttwn lands of the main stream of the Xemaha river and the nonh and south
forks of the Xemaha. the bottom lands, alth.-ugh the richest in the world,
were unproductive to a great extent: w^.rth ver>- linle for farming pur-
poses, and valued ver\- low in dollars and cents, and were subject to fre-
quent overflow. The old channel of the Xemaha and its two forks is ver\-
crooked and inadequate to carr>- the great volume of water which comes
dow-n the valley in time of hea\-A- rains in the spring and simimer season.
The farmer who trieil to sow a crop did so with the chances against liim.
the .>lds being in favor of the river overflowing and destro\-ing the crop

RICHARDSON COIXTV. NEBRASKA. _'77

before it was ready to harvest. It was to be expected that someone or
group of individuals would eventually undertake to redeem this vast acreage
of appearently worthless land and make it fit for crop production by re-
moving the flood menace through the digging of drainage ditches. The
movement began in 1903, when the first agitation for a drainage ditch was
commenced. Then it was discovered that Nebraska had no laws providing
for incorporating drainage districts, and also that permission had to be
obtained from the federal government in order to incorporate the Indian
lands along the lower stretches of the Xemaha within the district. These
difficulties were overcome, however, and drainage district Xo. i \vas suc-
cessfully undertaken and the ditch pushed to completion. Three drainage
districts Xos. I, 2. and 4. are now in successful operation in Richardson
county, and a second attempt is now being made to revive the defeated
project for drainage district Xo. 3. wliich is intended to drain the overflow
lands of the Muddy river.

HISTORY OF DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. I.

Drainage district Xo. i Ijegins at the mouth of the Xemaha river,
where it empties into the Missouri, and drains the Xemaha valley as far
as Dawson. The river, before the completion of the drainage ditch, had
a total length of sixty-five miles from Dawson to its mouth. This distance
has been shortened to a length of thirty-one miles, and vast benefit to the
contiguous lands has been noticeable. Fifty-three miles of public highway
were affected and the benefit to the highways has l^een estimated by engi-
neers to exceed seventy-seven thousand dollars. Thirty thousand acres of
rich land are directly affected and drained by the completed ditch. The
fall of the stream as it flows through the new channel has an average of
three and one-half feet to the mile. The project was started at a time when
there were no drainage laws on the statutes of the state v)f Xeliraska. The
promoters of the undertaking, hi i\\ ever, succeded in ha\ing a wise law
enacted by the state Legislature and the work moved onward to a success-
ful conclusion.

The Legislature of Xebraska at the session of 1905, enacted a drain-
age law mi^re comprehensive than any then existing in the statute books
• if this .state. This drainage act. with subsequent amendments, is found in
Statutes of 1907. Compiled Statutes of Xebraska. Chapter eighty-nine, .\rticle
four. Sections one to thirtv->even.

2yti RICtlARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Under the provisions of this statute the owners of about sixteen thou-
sand acres of wet and overflowed lands signed articles of association and
organized themselves into a drainage district with outlines embracing twen-
ty-six thousand acres and presented a petition to the district court of Rich-
ardson county, asking to be declared a public corporation of Nebraska. After
ail the parties whose lands or interests were affected were brought into
court and after proper hearing on all contested matters, the court entered
a decree on the 14th of February, 1906, duly establishing and forming
the organization into drainage district No. i, of Richardson county, Ne-
braska, as prayed for by the petitioners, with boundaries as modified by
the court, and declaring the drainage district a public corporation of the state.

On the 17th day of March thereafter the landowners of the drainage
district assembled at the court house in Falls City, and elected as a board of
supervisors, Daniel Riley, R. E. Grinstead, J. H. Miles, C. F. Pribbeno and
J. P. Mooney, to carry out the provisions of the drainage law and the pur-
pose of the drainage organization. The board qualified and organized by
electing J. H. Miles, chairman, and J. P. Mooney, secretary, and employed
.\. M. Munn, a drainage engineer, to make the survey, maps, plats, esti-
mates, schedules and plans required by section 9 of the drainage act.

In December, 1906, the engineer filed his report with the board and
notice was given to all parties affected as required by section 13 of the act.
and on Fe1)ruary 2, 1907, and subsequently hearings were had upon the
oljjections and claims filed under sections 14 and 15, and upon the con-
clusion of the hearings and the equalization of the assessments on April
27, 1908, the lx)ard levied the same assessments against the land and other
propert}' in the district and certified the same to the county clerk as pro-
vided in section 18. The engineer reported that other lands than those
incorporated originally by the decree of the court would be benefited by
the drainage improvement and these, by a subsequent proceeding in the
district court instituted under the provisions of section 1 1 were added to
the district and notice was also given of the assessments upon these added
lands and a hearing was had thereon.

^^'ithin the limits of the district were found certain lands belonging
to members of the Iowa tribe of Indians and the Sac and^Fo.x tribe of
Indians. Tliese lands could not be taxed under existing laws. To permit
these Indian lands to be reclaimed, the Congress of the United States
enacted a law, ajjproved June 14. 1906, the title being- as follows: ".\n
act to enalile the Indians allotted lands in severaltv within the boundaries

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 279

of district No. i, in Richardson county, Nebraska, to protect their lands from
overflow, and for the segregation of such of said Indians from their tribal
relations as may be expedient and for other purposes." The lands have
all been allotted, and the funds segregated, but the secretary of the interior
has held back fifty-seven thousand dollars belonging to these Indians against
the Indian lands.

When drainage district No. i was established and declared a public
corporation by decree of court, February 14, 1906, the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy railroad took an appeal to the supreme court from the order in-
cluding its roadbed in the district and making the railroad company an in-
voluntary member of the political organization known as drainage district
No. I. In the supreme court the railroad company assailed the constitu-
tionality of the act under which the district was organized. No such ques-
tion has been raised in the lower court, and when the railroad company
first disclosed its purpose in its brief filed in April. 1907, attacking the
drainage law on that ground, the board of supervisors thought it wise to
suspend active work until the supreme court passed upon the question pre-
sented. On December 7, 1907. the court filed an opinion holding the act con-
stitutional in respect to the points on which it was assailed, but the second
contention of the railroad company that it was not "A necessary party to
the proceeding in the district court to declare the drainage district a public
cor];)oration," was sustained.

Before the landowners organized this drainage district they appealed
to the powers at Washington for expert assistance to determine for them
whether the wet, submerged and overflowed lands of the Nemaha river
could be reclaimed and protected. The department of agriculture sent C.
G. Elliot, engineer in cliarge of drainage investigation, who looked the
situation over and reported that the work was feasible and the valley could
l)e reclaimed at reasonable cost. After the survey by A. M. Munn, the
engineers employed 1)y tlie drainage board, had been reported, the board
called to his assistance C. G. Elliot, expert drainage engineer, who approved
the ])lans and estimates of the engineer in charge of the work. The esti-
mates were lilieral. and the report set out that the works and improvements
formulated and agreetl upmi could l)e constructed safely within the esti-
mates, the total estimated cost being $285,900. The number of acres in
tlie district are as follows : .Sac and Fox Indians, 2,392.72 : Iowa Indians,
378.67; other lands, 26,630.90; total, 29,402.29.

The maximum assessment provided for was nine dollars and seventeen

280 RICTIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

cents an acre. These lands were assessed for state and count)- purposes
at a valuation of twenty-five to fifty dollars per acre, while the adjoining
uplands were assessed at from fifty to one hundred dollars per acre. In
addition to assessments against the lands the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
railroad was assessed $16,014; the Missouri Pacific railroad, $3,500; the
county, on its public roads, $18,600, a total of $38,114.

On June 15, 1908, the board of supervisors authorized the issuance
of negotiable bonds to the amount of $260,000 to defray the immediate
cost of the undertaking, the bonds to bear date of June 30, 1908, and to
mature in different years; the first bond being redeemable or reaching ma-
turity on July I, 1913, and the last portion of the issue reaching maturity
on July I, 1927. The bonds were issued by the board of supervisors, who
were as fcillow: Daniel Riley, chairman; J. P. Mooney, secretary; R. E.
Grinstead, J. H. Allies, \\ F. Pribbeno. A. R. Keim, attorney, and A. ]\I.
Munn, engineer.

The drainage ditch was completed in 1913. just five years after the
actual work of dredging was begun. Bonds to the amount of $202,000,
bearing interest at six per cent, were issued. The grand total cost of the
ditch to date has been $297,564.

Thomas Wilkinson, of Dawson, is the present chairman of district
Xo. I, and C. F. Bucholz is secretary. Since the completion of the ditch
many landowners have supplemented the work by ditching and tiling their
own lands as individuals and are reaping considerable benefits from the ven-
ture in the way of increased crop yields. Over one thousand acres of
land in the bottoms are now tile drained and other owners are making
preparations to lay tile for the purpose of more rapidly draining the snil
in time of heav)- rains.

The drainage on the main channel of the Xemaha river has not lieen
a complete success, because of the fact that too much of tlie old channel
of the stream was used. In the further dredging of the south fork of the
Xemaha the district is getting away from this method and is dredging an
entirely new channel, it being noticeable that in places where the old channel
was abandoned entirely it very rapidly filled up and the new stream was worn
deeper I)y erosion, thus making a more rapid current to carry awav the
>uiplus flood waters.

J. H. Miles, owner nf tlie great Aliles ranch in the vicinitv (^f Dawxm.
dredged a continuation of the ditch incori^oralcd in district Xo. r, on liis

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 281

own account through his land on the upper end or terminus of district
No. I. Mr. Miles completed three miles of ditch, which is of vast benefit
to his bottom ranch lands.

DRAIN.4GE DISTRICT NO. 4.

Drainage district No. 4 begins at the terminus of the Miles ditch and
continues to the county hne for a distance of six and one-half miles. This
ditch drains a total of three thousand four hundred acres and the flowing
water has a fall of four feet to the mile and is now in charge of County
Engineer J. F. Relf. The estimated cost of this ditch is fifty-nine thou-
sand dollars. The work in this district is well under way and is being dredged
along plans formulated from knowledge gleaned from the dredging of the
ditch in district No. i. John E. Wissler is chairman of the Iward of super-
visors in this district.

DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 2.

Drainage district Xo. 2 extends from Dawson to the county line north-
west of Humboldt and embraces a total of five thousand eight hundred
acres.

COUNTY FAIR AND AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITS.

The Richardson county fair ceased to be an institution in the year
1894. During the long career of the fair and agricultural exhibit it was
easily the most popular institution in this section of Nebraska. The first
fair was organized in 1867 and the fair grounds were laid out at Salem
in one of the most picturesque and beautifully wooded spots in the ^^'est,
along the banks of the Nemaha river. Nature has so endowed this spot,
located just to the east of the town of Salem, that it was a natural recreation
ground shaded with great, natural forest trees and well watered and carpeted
with velvety blue-grass. A splendid race-track, one-half mile in circum-
ference, was laid out, and for years the race meets were exciting and inter-
esting e^•ents in connection with the fair. An impetus was given to the
breeding of racing animals and fine live stock, and many of the old-time
horsemen lired horses which became famous the country o\er for speed
and endurance on the track. The late John ^^^ Holt was one of the prime
movers in the establishment of the county fair; Ralph Andersun served as

282 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

president of the Fair Association for a number of years; many of those
who were prominently identified with the association have gone to their
rewards in the hfe eternal and owing to the lack of recorded data available
concerning the history of the county fair it is impossible to give any very
authentic account of the various fairs which were held for nearly thirty
3ears on the Salem grounds.

The county fair was an institution to which people looked forward
during the year, when, with the crops laid aside and care thrown to the
winds, entire families would gather at Salem for the one great event of
the whole year. Everybody deemed it necessary to attend the fair and there
were hundreds of exhibitors at each annual session. The Salem fair was
— the annual reunion and home-coming meet for the greater part of south-
eastern Nebraska during the heyday of its prosperity. With the coming of
the nineties and the advent of the chautauquas in the' land the popularity of
the county fair gradually waned and the yearly chautauqua has taken its
place. The county fair ceased to exist after 1894 and the chautauqua
then came into its own. The first chautauqua in the county was held at
the Salem fair grounds and soon became an even more popular institution
than the annual fair. Before the popularity of the automobile had reached
such a great height, as high as ten thousand people attended the Salem
chautauqua and a large part of this number lived in tents throughout the
session. Such famous men as Gen. Fitzinigh Lee, General Gordon, Gov.
Bob Taylor, of Tennessee, T. Dewitt Talmage, and Sam Jones, the great
evangelist, were among the attractions during the early years of the chau-
tauqua. Of late years several chautauquas are held in the county each season,
practically every town in Richardson county having its list of attractions
during the late summer season, and it is evident that tlie chautauqua has come
to stay as an established institution. Attempts to resuscitate the county fair
at different times oi late years have not been successful.

AGRICUI.TURAI. DEVELOPMENT OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.
By J. O. Shroyer.

A thousand years ago the Indian recognized these beautiful valleys, the
gently undulating uplands and the sunny hillsides as the land of homes.
The mighty Missouri, the winding Nemahas and the wandering creeks pro-
\-ided wood, shelter and water.

The first wanderers who crossed the desert, paused here on the edge

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. ■ 283

of the great unknown and recuperated their forces before plunging into the
terrors of an unpathed wilderness. The flowing waters, sheltering timber
belts and the luxuriant pasturage recuperated their stock and put energy
into the human heart. When the first real homemaker rafted across the
river and ascended the bluffs of the western shore, he turned his eyes
back toward the Eastern home. He remembered those groves, orchards,
productive fields; he thought of the well-filled granaries, those splendid
gardens and all the comforts of that far-off land. But as he turned his face
to the West the rising sun of that splendid morning dashed a golden glow
over the landscape, the fogs lifted from the valleys of the Nemahas and
drifted off into the azure of a perfect day; the emeralds of the hills and
plains caught a little of the gilt of the sunlight, the darker sombers of
the timber belts lay enticingly winding away, the prairies were dotted by the
golden flowers of the gumweed, the crimson of the phlox, the tawn of
the lily, the purity of the plum and the chokecherry. The wild cucumber
was just clambering over tlie tops of the underbrush along the streams,
and the clematis clung more sturdily to the chosen tree, while the wild
grape flung its flaunting tendrils graspingly towards the swaying bough, put-
ting forth the bloom that should later be followed by the purple fruits of
autumn.

There he saw the deer, antelope, and buffalo; he saw the plover, wild
duck, the honking goose and the everpresent grouse. And as the rising
sunlight began to simmer the ether of the plains, his vision blurred, and in
the optimism of the hour a new and a greater land lay smilingly before him.
He saw the homesteads spring up over the land, he saw the fields of waving
corn, the herds of cattle: he saw the wild fowl translated into flocks of
poultry and, vision of visions, he saw a thousand spires of smoke arising
from tlie firesides of a thousand homes.

Then the development went on, and he beheld the church spires as
they pointed upward, he saw the children playing about the school maid,
as she cared for them and moulded them into characters of worth. He
saw more than corn and wheat, cattle, hogs and fruits; he saw a great com-
monwealth producing sturdv men and women, to go forth building a greater
and a better nation than the world had ever known.

Who was the first man to grasp the plow and urge his strong oxen
across the wild sod and watch the ribbon of chocolate loam that strung out
its productive length as he trailed across a chosen plot of ground? Xo

284 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

man knows; his name is not recorded, bnt the inspiration and example of
his act, the success of his achievement, taught a thousand imitators, and
unawares a great agricultural industry sprang up.

FIRST RURAL HOME BUILDING IN RICHARDSON COUNTY.

Forty years ago we visited one of the real pioneer homes of Nebraska,
it was on the north bank of Porter run, and the owner was a pioneer of
the true type.

He iiad dug out a cavern and walled it with stones from the creek,
a joint of pipe projected through the roof at the north end, a door opened
to the sunny end on the south. In one room they had lived and reared a
family of boys and girls. Far and near it was l^nown as the dug-out of
Tommy Hodkins. The nearby timber provided his fuel, the spring on the
creek the water, the luxuriant grass the food for his oxen, the wild meat
.of the plains his food, supplemented by a little flour or meal transported
in the earlier days from Nebraska City. Few of the children from those
very earliest homes ever stayed to enjoy the fruits of their fathers" exer-
tion and ambition. They inherited the wild instinct of the pioneer ; they
loved the open lands, and the encroachments of the second brigade of settlers
drove them on into the lands of the setting sun. But this type of home
was the first and it was a comfortable retreat from the blasts of winter.

The breaking plow was the first requirement in the way of farm ma-
chinery; it was a long-beamed, low-built affair and had a long curving
mouldlxiard that gently turned the sod and left it in an unbroken ribbon.
It had a standing cutter and a depth-gauging wheel at the end of the
beam. Then came the "grasshopper" plow. It had long rods curved in
mouldboard fashion that turned the sod, and the share was a flat steel
blade that sat ]ierfect1y flat in the furrow and cut a root or stem in parallel
stroke.

T have followed both these plows down the long furrow and ha\e
often sorrowed as they turned a plover nest, with its speckled eggs, (ir
caught a full dozen prairie chicken eggs and whirled them under the sod.
Sometimes it was different when a two-foot rattlesnake came buzzing ui>
with the sod and the driver jumped swiftly over the handles and onto the
lieam to avuid the poison fangs. The little six-inch lizard often left his
tail wriggling in the gra.'ss and hurried off to shelter. The swift, darting
liluerncer glittered in the sun as he sped more swiftK" than an\- reptile and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 285

disappeared in a nearby clump of redroots or weeds. The redroot was a
familiar weed in those days, and I often heard the judgment of a piece
of ground placed on the number of redroots that infested it. But as a bo)-
I considered them only a plow-duller that forced me oftener to pound out the
clay. They were helped in this by the shoestring, a lowly plant that sent
long, stringy roots through the soil and the sound of their cutting was
disquieting to the driver and discouraging to the team.

The plover were so plentiful that I have often knocked them over
with a handy redroot or the whip I carried to urge the team. The chicken
of the prairies crowed and strutted within a rod of me as I hitched and
began tlie morning work. The quail was more plentiful than today and
many deplore the passing of those splendid fowl of the prairies. I ha\'e
I if ten noted the great green-headed mallards as they sank into some nearby
pool and at noon, while the team rested, it was common sport for the
jiicineer to crawl up to the slough-grass border and with his old shotgun,
drop a couple of the fine birds.

The pioneer had no modern disc and no harrow of sufficient cutting
])ower to pulverize those sods, hence he was compelled to let them rot through
tlie long summer, stopping his plowing on that account about the first of
July or at least by the middle of that month. Then in September, or pre-
ferably .\ugust, he l)ackset the sod, cutting a little deeper and throwing
u|) an inch or so of fine soil on top of the sod. Then with a wooden
liarrow with perfect))- round teeth, he harrowed the field and sowed his
wlieat. broadcasting in the earlier vears and sowing with a hoe-drill later
(in. I can remem1)er the stir the first press-drill made some thirty years
ago.

The big-bcader was the instrument of harxesting. We had three long
lieader-boxes on wagons. These boxes were sitled with house siding, and
luu! tlie oft^ side some two or three feet the higher; and woe be to the driver
who piled tlie wheat too high on the high side, as the whole wagon would
upset w itli ease. This heading-machine was propelled by si.x or eight horses
that walked side by side heliind the machine and pushed it through the
fields, a long sickle cutting the grain that fell on the carrier and was elevated
to the wagon. Tlie Marsh harvester came about 1881. the wire binder a
little later, but it was not :\ success, ai^^^iut few were used ; the Marsh
harvester lasted but a few }ears and was driven from the field in short
order b\- the twine-binder.

286 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FAVORED SITES OF EARLY HOMES.

Along the ^Missouri bluffs there were nooks and corners among the
hills that afforded sites for some of the tirst pioneer homes. The timber
provided the logs and the old log house of the Eastern states was common
as well as dug-outs in the hills. The hunting was good and helped won-
derfully in the agricultural development, as the sale of furs often was
the largest money income the pioneer had. In those sheltered nooks he
could raise corn and vegetables, and the tobacco patch was no uncommon
sight. The plums, grapes, choke-cherries, gooseberries and wild raspberries
afforded a fair fruitage. The fish was plentiful, but the real agriculture
never started in that locality. Among the native fruits we must not. forget
the pawpaw that appealed to the emigrant from Indiana as no other. There
are still groves of this tree along the bluffs and I have many times dined
on the pawpaw.

Perhaps we should not forget the old water-mills that helped forward
the agricultural progress of this country. They sprang up along the Xemahas
and afforded the pioneer a chance to secure flour and meal at home; here
he could go with his grist some three or four tim.es a year and get his grain
ground. I have often driven to Luthy's mill west of Humlx)ldt. on the
Nemaha, and stayed until my turn came to get a grist ground.

The tree-fringed streams were enticing to the first settlers and alnno
their banks we saw the first homes established. It was not the best land,
but the wood, shade, prdtection and home comfort of these natural groxes
appealed to the settler. And many of the great farms of Richardson count}
still ha\e the home upon the site of one of those pioneer-day spots. \\'hen
the owner found that his land was not so convenient and valuable to
farm, he did not sell the old home, but bought some of the uplands of the
open prairies and adding this to the old homestead, went on with grain
farming on the open land and caring for the stock on the old timbereil
homestead. The Corwin Fergus home, the old Barney Mullen estate and
many other such farms still attest to the wisdom of this plan and are monu-
mental examples of mixed farming that brought comfort and plenty.

The early settler found a Wuti f ul land. Larkspur gleamed in white
and blue: the red phlox of the prairies and the blue phlox of the timber
dazzled the eye : the yellow gold of the gumweed bent beneath the beam
of the old breaking ])l()w and the aster and lily swayed in the winds of
the prairies. .\nd as we led our cows out to the lariat ropes atid tied the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 287

halter in the swivel, we crunched through thousands of violets. Many a
wind-swept, sun-baked prairie home was sheltered by a wild cucumber or
grape vine.

The first pastures were fenced in the seventies, with barb wire, and
soon afterward farming meant stock raising as well as grain growing. We
planted hedges on our own farm, bringing the seed from the old Illinois
home. The early settler had no money to buy fencing, but could grow the
osage and it was a great advantage to the country ; it shut oft the hot south-
ern winds, tempered the northern blasts of winter and set the landscape
of the prairies in frames of living green. We may deplore the osage hedge,
but it had a wonderful part in the civilization of Richardson county.

Stock growing in those early days was discouraging, but many a settler
soon saw his herd of cattle grow and become valuable. Today we sell our
hogs at fifteen cents a pound. I remember when we bought three splendid
Poland sows for three cents a pound.

I went into a modern farm home the other day. Tlie electric light
plant flashed out and ever}^ room was agleam ; the steam-heating plant in
the cellar gives it an atmosphere of summer all winter long; a splendid
water system sends a stream of liquid all over the Iiouse, and toilets, lava-
tories and every convenience lighten the burden of the housewife and make
the farm home as modern as that in the city. In our early pioneer home we
lived with only a ship-lap siding; the winds swept in the snows of winter.
and I distinctly remember sitting by the stove all day long clad in the heaviest
overcoat I could get hold of. Our barns were forks set in the ground, poles
and brush laid on and all banked with straws and covered with slough grass.
Toda\- our horses stand in barns that are comfortable and commodious.

PIONEER USED CORN FOR FUEL.

Corn was so cheap and coal so high in those early days that the farmer
burned corn, and we have carried in many a bushel of corn and thrust the
big ears into the blaze and saw the kernels crisp, darken, and glow in the
lieat. F.xtravagant? No, it was economy, for the coal was dearer than
the corn.

We raised tliat corn with walking cultivators and it w'as about 1886
betore we bought the first riding cultivators. In those early days we had
one wav of getting a little back from the railroads. Some adventurous
farmer would hie awav in the dead of night and the next morning a couple

288 RICHARDSON COUNTY, N?:BRASKA.

of teams would sweep across a big field of corn stalks and the heavy iron
rail would do the breaking most effectively and quickly. It was strange
how hard it was to discover who got that iron from the railroad premises.
Everyone used it, but no one ever saw it brought into the neighborhood.
It had no owner, but many users. All summer long it lay in the shelter of
a weed patch and only in the dry frosty days of early spring did it come
forth.

Alfalfa came into our agriculture some thirty years ago and it has
largely assisted in the progress and development of the same, but clover
was the first and perhaps the greatest factor in maintaining the fertility
of the virgin soil. It is the great agent of rotation; it is the cheapest fertil-
izer, it is the greatest combined grazing and hay plant.

Many a farm is today growing more grain, hay and stock than it could
have produced in the pioneer days of its virginity. When I read or hear
speakers tell of the wasteful depletion of the soil under the hands of the
.\merican farmer, I am sure that such a condemnation is not upon the
farmers of Richardson county. Great train loads of meat animals, great
warehouses filled with wheat, corn and oats, hundreds of cellars filled with
fruits and vegetables and groaning tables loaded with the best living that
any section of the world knows of, all attest to the tremendous production
of the land today. Richardson county can, and does today, grow more
tons of hay, more bushels of grain, more pounds of meat and more fruits,
vegetables and poultry than at any period in its history. The stability of our
agricultural development and future attainments are increased every decade.

SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF RICHARD.SON COUNTY.

The first wells upon the farms of Richardson countv were bored or
dug and a long tin or galvanized iron pail was wound up at the end of a
rope and the water poured into a half-barrel tub. Today the wind-mills
assisted by the panting gasoline engines throw the pure steams through
piping systems, to every lot, pasture, shed and barn about the premises;
automatically the supply is regulated, it flows into the house and the water
system is as complete as that of a city. Great standpipes hold barrels of
water stored for stock and man. Deep cisterns and convenient tanks com-
plete the arrangements.

The pioneer called every man his neighbor. There was a freedom.
a charitable assumption, an equality and hungering desire for companion-
ship that broke down evcrv barrier of caste and clan.

^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 289

The groveless prairies permitted the eye to wander for miles across
the plains and some morning when we saw the white gleam of new lumber
as a shack arose, perhaps many miles away, we knew another friend had
come to our country. Many an evening as I have stood upon some rising
knoll and seen the lights of the little homes flash out across the prairies,
I would count the friends who clustered about those lamps. We met in the
little white school houses and spelling bees "liter-aries," revivals, funerals
and weddings were all well attended.

Our ways of traveling were primitive. If it was not too far we went
afoot, otherwise we used the best we had. Sometimes it was a saddle on
one of the old farm horses, sometimes it was a spring wagon, sometimes
it was the old farm wagon. Then along in the eighties it became common for
the top buggy to appear on the farm roads. About this time we saw the
orchards and groves spring up until they hid the gleam of the evening
lamps; the social life of the old communities became a little more limited,
our neighborhoods a little more narrow. We beheld a little of the unknown
caste begin to grow into the social Hfe.

The grading of the schools threw the interest of the older boys and
girls from the old school house; it no longer was a recognized center of
sociability, it became too circumscribed for the religious life and as few
of them were ever remodeled or rebuilt to keep pace with the community
and farm growth, the agricultural society has been diverted largely to the
villages, towns and cities. Even the country churches felt that progress
had left them sitting by the wayside in many instances. The fact that
fifty per cent, of the faims became the homes of renters also had its effect
on tlie social life; it lost some of the stability that originally characterized
it. But tlie automobile is again enlarging the social life of our county,
permitting the establishment of larger business, educational atid social activi-
ties. The coming together of the rural people is now bringing about a
new era. Cars drive miles to the school, the picnic or the business meetings
of the rural people.

The Farmers Union has come into being and organized agriculture
is now upon us. Numerous local organizations, each composed of from
fifteen to one hundred members, are united in one county organization.
These locals also unite in district organizations that own elevators, stores
smd exchanges: the farmer is demonstrating that he is a business man as
well as a tiller of tlie soil. Tliev ]m\e again enlarged the neiglihorhood
do)

2f)0 RTCIIARnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

bounds and today these bounds are even wider than in the pioneer days.
The county organization is connected with the state union and through it
to a national organization, in^ twenty-seven states.

By this rural organization, the i,iri:(.,- ■•. !i(hards(in cuuniy have
united into one community, one thousand homes; five thousand farm people
that are working in a solid body for the uplift of the agricultural develop-
ment of the community. This movement being just in its infancy, no hand
may write the tremendous import of the awakening of the farmers of this
rich agricultural land to the possibilities that lie before them. It is causing
them to think and think hard and fast. We can easily predict that almost
every farm home will be reached ; the farmers will solve the social life, the
economic distribution of their products and the soil maintenance far more
efifectively than it has ever been done by entrusting it to outside interests.
Fully conversant with his working power, the strength of his will and the
possibilities of organized effort, the future of this county is contemplated
serenely by the farmer.

If working almost alone, we have reached the climax of the first half
century ; that we see today, as the palatial homes beside our highways attest,
the commodious barns testify and the well tilled fields beside the road dem-
onstrate, how mighty will be the achievements of the united farmers of
the next half century. The tractor turns the stubble with a rapidity and
ease never known; the cars carry the farmer swiftly and comfortable on
his way to pleasure and business; his organization will enable him to secure
just legislation and effectively to study and practice economical distribution
and marketing of his products, build and equip tjie best rural schools in
the world, educate and entertain his children on the farm, extend the social
vision of his neighborhood life and build an agricultural environment sur-
passing the wildest visions of the most optimistic dreamer.

.\ TRIBUTE TO THE I'lONEER MOTHERS.

She buikled the greatest achievement of them all — mother, the archi-
tect of "home, sweet home." With a courage born of the love and hope
of a parent she stepped across the gangplank of the ferry and turning
reverentlv she gave -one last, longing look toward the Eastern horizon, where
far away in the dimming distance lay the home of her youth. Tender and
strong were the chords that bound her to the past.

Perhaps a tear fell into the surging waters as she placed her foot upon

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 2gi

tlie Western sands. But no tear, no tide, no wave of rushing tiood can
e\er wash out the imprint of the footsteps of mother.

Hope, love, ambition for the children and the instinct that bade her
rise above selfishness, were stronger than any chain that ever clanked from
the forge. Upon this hope and love she saw the rising vision of a million
homes.

The past was but a memory, the future a stern Ijut beautiful realit}- ;
the heart of our nation bows reverently upon her hearth-stone. Xot with the
martyrdom of an hour did she lay her life upon the altar of home, but
with an everlasting self-abnegation she faced the blizzards of a score of
years and the droughts of their summers. Self -ambitions and the anticijia-
tion of her youth she gently, but firmly, laid away and drew the curtain
of hope and love before them. Let them lie in the secret place of her heart.
Her God alone knows the sacrifices she made that day. and when the hands
of the recording angel shall write the last record of her life, they will be
emblazoned upon the unsullied page and we shall behold a tremenddus
sacrifice.

She brought the flowers and fruits of that Eastern home and planted
them upon the sun-baked, wind-swept jirairies: she watered and cared for
them, shaded them from the sweltering sun and protected them from the
lilasts of the blizzards until she saw the .splendid groves, the flower-adorned
lawns and the fruitful gardens throwing their shade and colors across the
plain. The footsteps and achieved ambitions of the pioneer mothers ha\e
marked an impress upon our empire that time and eternitv cannot eflt'ace.
Tt shall ever grow grandly and sublimel\- in our appreciation.

The mothers of Nebraska need no towering monuments to remind us
that they lived and loved ; no tablets of bronze or stone, as every fireside
w ithin our domain stands as a tribute to her memory. As the vine entwined
and embowered the home that .she built, her love entwines our lives.

Ungrateful the heart that forgets the pioneer mothers of Nebraska, the
architect^' of "home, sweet home."

CHAPTER XII.
Early Transportation, Navigation and Railroads.

Richardson county, lying- in the southeast corner of Nebraska and first
from the south of the river counties of the state was at once effected by the
vohnne of travel coming up the river from the South and East.

At the time men first began to look "toward Richardson county with
an e}e to making settlement here, no railroad was within hundreds of miles
of it and tlie only means of reaching this country was either by making
the journey hither overland through a wilderness as j^et without well-defined
wagon trails, or up the river by boat. This latter method most appealed to
the early adventurer and many no doubt had journeyed up the river long
before any thought of settlement in this part of the West was entertained.
Bordering on the river was of immense advantage to the early peoples and
caused the river counties to be first choice of the pioneers.

In those days the railroad was by no means a new thing in the older
and more thickly settled parts of the East, but necessity hatl not caused
its extension to any great degree in this direction.

In these days when capital is more easily available, the railroad verv
often goes into the fastnesses of the newer countries in advance of immi-
gration and is the first cause of its settlement ; but in the davs of wliich we
s])eak, the people were pushing out in advance of transportation facilities and
were dependent on the hope that at some future time there might be a rail-
road— but to many, as we of later days know, the railroad was onlv a dream,
which held many of them here.

Being forced to use the river, which was then as now, full of snags
and sand bars and subject to overflow and with the low water stages,
the early navigator was not without his troubles: but under such dire neces-
sity the obstacles were overcome and navigation had reached a high state
of development. In those days the steamboats, both for the carrying of all
kind of freight and passengers, were numerous and while slow and tedious
served remarkably well until at last the coming of tlie railroad made that
mode of tra\el obselete.

The tremendous subsidies in the way of vast land grants by the gov-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

^93

ernment, given as aid to railroad building and intended to stimulate this
■line of industry, coupled with the big profits in the projection and operation
of new lines, had its effect in turning attention to this speedier mode of
transportation to the great detriment of our inland waterways. While
they have in the past and do still receive government aid, the same has
been used for most part in restraining the encroachment of the river and
not with any idea of preserving it as a navigable stream.

In Richardson county, Rulo, Yankton, Arago, and St. Stephens were
river towns and ports of entrance for many of the pioneers who either
remained here or made their way on west into the interior or to tlie moun-
tains. Yankton and St. Stephens were the first points touched by river boats,
which discharged cargoes and the latter had the honor of being the first
point in the county which had a ferry comiecting with the Missouri shore,
and the same was in charge of the elder Stephen Story, who gave the name
to the latter village. Rulo came next, but Arago soon outdistanced all in
position as a port of importance and continued to hold its supremacy until
the coming of the railroad. These cities enjoyed trade from long distances
inland, serving the country for hundreds of miles to the West. Arago, with
its packing house, distillery, saw- and flour-mills bid fair to become quite a
metropolis and was for a time a place of first importance in the county as
neither of the other places in that early day had the same energetic boosters.

At the time of the very early settlement of the county, the only regular
means of communication for mail, passengers and freight with the outside
world, was by steamboat; although later, because of the railroad reaching
Atchison, Kansas, in advance of any rail connection from other directions,
the mail was sent first to Atchison by rail and thence north either by boat
or carriers on regularly established postroads which came via Hiawatha,
Kansas, or Rulo. In tlie matter of river tran.sportation' for all purposes, it
must be remembered that amongst its other disadvantages to the early pioneer
in the way of a dependable convenience, was the fact that during the winter
months it was practically suspended because of the ice in the river for long
periods, when the boats were obliged to tie up until the ice would go out
in the spring.

The better river boats had a capacity for carrying as many as four
hundred passengers and the fare from St. Louis, Missouri, to Rulo or St.
Stephens would range about fifteen or twenty dollars, which, of course,
included meals and state rooms. The culinary department of those boats
was generally in good hands anrl the larder well supplied with the best that
money could Iniv.

294 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

The lengtli of time usually re(|uire(l iu luakin^;- the up trip from St.
Louis to this county was about seven or eight days, equal, if not longer
in length of time, than would be required for modern liners in crossing
the Atlantic in times of peace. Those having had the pleasure of such
journeys in the old days generallv described them as having been quite dull
and e\entless. Such an experience was very aptly described by the noted
Mark Twain in his "Rou,ghing It." when he said:

"W'e were six days in going from St. Louis to St. Joseph. Missouri.
a trip that was so dull and sleepy and eventless, that it has left no more
impression on my memory than if its duration had been six minutes instead
of that many days. No record is left on my mind now concerning it, but
a confused jumble of savage-looking snags, which we deliberately walked
over with one wheel or the other, and of reefs, which we butted and butted
and then retired from, and climbed over in some other places, and of sand
bars, which we roosted on occasionally and rested, and then got our crutches
and sparred over. In fact, the boat might have gone to St. Joseph by
land, for she was walking most of the time, anyhow, climbing over reefs
and clambering over snags, patiently and laboriously, all day long. The
captain said it was a bully boat and all she wanted was more 'shear' and
a bigger wheel. I thought she wanted a pair of stilts, but I had the sa,gacit\
not to say so."

In addition to passengers those boats carried from five hundred to
six hundred tons of freight and the rates were as high as two dollars and
fifty cents per hundred weight on merchandise that would not cost to exceed
fifteen cents per hundred weight in these days. The crews consisted of
from eighty to one hundred men and the value of these boats were estimated
to be nearly fifty thousand dollars each. The river then as at the present
time, was filled with sand bars and it required all the skill of the most
experienced river men to negotiate it in safety to his destination with the boat.

Government regulations concerning river traffic required two experienced
ri\ er pilots on board of each lioat employed as c<5mmon carriers, and they
readily commanded salaries of from two hundred and fifty to five hundred
dollars per month. With the passing of river traffic on the Missouri many
of these well-known river men, such as captains and pilots, were left with-
out opportunitv for further service while many, as in other lines of business,
kft for other fields, where they might continue iu the same line of employ-
ment. Thus it was our pleasure during the month of August iu the year
1916 to meet on the steamer "deorgiana," on the Columbia ri\er. while
making a trip from I'ortland to Astoria, Oregon, and return, one who in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 295

the old days had been regularly employed on the Missouri boats and it is to
him we are in some measure indebted for first-hand information in regard
to river traffic.

Gambling on the ri\er boats in those days was b)- no means restricted
and furnished means for amusement, which at times provided all the thrills
which might be lacking from other sources, and all early accounts seem to
agree that while tlie "plunger" was as common then as now. the stakes were
as high or higher.

There were lines of boats which might be termed "through" boats
destined to and from certain ports, scheduled for regular and direct service
to and from those places onl}-. while others had longer routes. The boats were
run much as trains nowadays, in that there were "through" boats, and the
local or "slow" boat, which might stop to pick up or discharge freight or
passengers at every stop en route.

FIRST EFFORT IN BEHALF OF A RAILRO.VD.

First in importance of all the drawijacks of this new country as it
was found by the pioneers, was the lack of adequate transportation facili-
ties and the question of finding a remedy was one that occupied the minds
of the people from the beginning. The first official action to be found looking
toward the solution of this then weighty problem may be found in the
territorial statutes, where is recorded the passage of an act by the Terri-
torial Legislature, which was approved on November 4, 1858. This act
was for the purpose of incorporating what was to be known as "The
Missouri River & Nemaha Valley Railroad Company." Section i of this act
named the following well-known pioneer business men and farmers as the
incorporators and moving spirits in the enterprise ; Francis .L. (joldsi^erry.
Archer; Charles Martin, Rulo; Eli Bedard. Rulo; D. T. Easley. Rulo; B.
F. Cunningham, Rulo; S. B. Miles: Joseph G. Ramsey; William Kenceleur,
Rulo; A. C. Lierft. A. L. Currance, Joseph Yount, William P. Loan,. St.
Stephens; William Goolsby, Archer; Jesse Crook, Archer; Samuel Keiffer, J.
Cass Lincoln, Salem ; T. R. Hare, Salem ; Arnett Roberts, Salem ; J. Lebo,
John A. Rurbank, Falls City; Thomas J. Whitney, Christian Bobst. Cincin-
nati; John Frice. F. F. Limming. H. N. Gere, J. P. Sutton. J. C. Peavy,
E. W. Fowler, E. Jordan, and their successors and assigns. The objects
of this act, as stated therein, "was to locate, construct and finally complete
a railroad at, or as near as practicable, the junction of the Missouri and
the Great Nemaha rivers, upon the most eligible route to Ft. Kearney.

296 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

there to unite with any railroad which may hereafter be constructed up
the \'alley of the Great Platte." The capital stock of the company was
to consist of $3,000,000. This road did not materialize.

FIRST LICENSED FERRY, AT AR.AGO.

An act passed by the Legislature and approved on January 3, 1862,
authorized H. \\'. Summerland and George Walther to keep a ferry across
the Missouri river at Arago, Richardson county, Nebraska Territory. They
were allowed to charge the following rates: For two horses, mules, oxen
and wagon, 75 cents; for each extra pair, 25 cents; for each horse or mule
and rider, 25 cents; for two horses or mules and buggy, 75 cents; for one
horse or mule and buggy, 50 cents; for each horse or mule led, 25 cents;
for loose cattle per head, 10 cents; for hogs and sheep under the number
of ID, each 5 cents; for over 10 and under 50, each 3 cents; for over 50,
each I cent; for each footman, 10 cents; for each crate of freight, 5 cents,
for lumber per hundred feet, $1.

NEMAHA RIVER FERRY.

A petition was presented to the commissioners court of Richardson
county on April 3, i860, praying that a ferry license be granted to Daniel
Reavis to keep a ferry across the Great Nemaha river. The said petition was
granted for the term of one year and the following rates for ferriage were
affixed :

One pair of horses or yoke of oxen and wagon 25 cents

Jor each additional span of horses or oxen 10 cents

Man and horse 10 cents

One horse and carriage 15 cents

One Footman 5 cents

Loose cattle per head 3 cents

Hogs and sheep per head 2 cents

The said Daniel Reavis to pay into the county treasury for said license
the sum of two dollars. In addition to the above ferriage fees fifty cents
mav be added when tine river is more than two-thirds liank full.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

OVERLAND FREIGHTING.

297

There was no regular outfitting point for freighting in the early days
in the confines of what is now Richardson county. Alost of this kind of
traffic, either passenger, freight or mail, was carried on from other points
on the river, notably from Atchison, Kansas, and Brownville or Nebraska
City, in this state. Atchison was the principal point and was chosen as
an outfitting point for most of the Salt Lake freighters, because it had
one of the best steamboat landings on the river, and the country lying west
made possible the best wagon road in the country.

Twenty-four miles west of Atchison this road was intersected by an
old overland mail trail from St. Joseph. Leavenworth also had a road
west, over which was planned to run the Pike's Peak express stages in the
spring of 1859. During the period of overland freighting on the plains more
trains left Atchison than at any other point on the river.

The cost of shipping merchandise to Denver was very high, as every-
thing was carried by the pound rather than the hundred pounds. Flour,
bacon, molasses, whiskey, furniture and trunks were carried at pound rates.
The rates per pound on merchandise shipped by ox or mule wagons to
Denver, prior to i860, were as follow: Flour, 9 cents; tobacco, 12I/2
cents; sugar, 13I/2 -cents; bacon, 15 cents; dry goods, 15 cents; crackers,
17 cents; whiskey. 18 cents; groceries, 19'/. cents; trunks, 25 cents; furni-
ture, 31 cents.

It has been said by those who witnessed the tremendous overland traffic

of the late fifties and early sixties, that the people of this generation can

form no conception of the enormous amount of traffic overland there was

in those days. Trains were being constantly outfitted, not only at Atchison,

but at all points on the river. Twenty-one days were about the time required

for a span of horses or mules to make the trip to Denver and keep the

stock in good condition. It required five weeks for ox trains to make

the same distance, and to Salt Lake, horses and mules were about si.x

weeks making the trip, and ox trains were on the road sixty-five or seventy

days. It was the ox upon which mankind depended in those days to carry on

the commerce of the plains. They were the surest and safest for hauling

the large part of the freight destined for the towns and military camps

or srarrisons of the frontier. Xext in importance to the ox, was the mule,

urtji^^l iffw.

because m^were tough and reliable and could endure fatigue. The year

r^fivsiimg tc, 'cm^of the l^ig years nf freighting across the plains,
"f-e parties 'i'."V^V - "

^9^ RICHARDSON COLXTV. NEBRASKA.

It was not unusual to see a number of steamboats lying at the levees
discharging freight, while as many more were in sight either going up the
river from St. Louis or down from St. Joseph. It was very common for
boats to be loaded at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or Cincinnati, Ohio, destined
for Kansas and Nebraska points and not unusual to see these boats loaded
with wagons, ox yokes, mining machinery, boilers, and other material neces-
sary for the immense trade in the W'est.

A very large part of this traffic West from river points was over
what was known as military roads along the south bank of the Platte. On
these roads could be seen six or eight yoke of cattle hauling heavily loaded
wagons and strings of four or six horse, or mule teams. These formed
an almost endless procession.

BRISKEST PERIOD OF OVERLAND TRADE.

The liveliest period of overland trade extended from 1859 until after
the war in 1865, during which time there was on the plains and in the
mountains, an estimated floating population of two hundred and fifty thou-
sand. The greatest majority of people on the plains produced but few of
the necessities of life, and consequently they must be supplied from the
river points. During the closing year of the Civil Wrt. the travel was
immense, most of the immigration being lured to the mining camps of the
West and Northwest.

Those trails had been used during the Great Mormon exodus to Salt
Lake and by the California forty-niners, in their dash for the fascinating
gold fields. By this time people were beginning to stop in Nebraska and
stake out claims, and to become residents. Among the early-day freighters
and mail contractors and carriers were Col. Stephen B. Miles, later a mil-
lionaire resident of this county and his able assistant, Joel T. Jones, and .
l'"rancis Withee, a freighter, and others. Colonel Miles and his men car-
ried mail from St. Louis to Salt Lake and their experiences, if reduced to
the printed page, would make a good sized volume in itself.

In the vicinity of Sabetha, Kansas, are many graves of travelers, over
the Santa Fe and California trails, who. unable to survive the hardships
of the trip, died and were buried with scant ceremony. In the woods
surrounding Sabetha were many wild plum trees. A\'hen the body of a
fortv-niner was buried, the rest of the train would sit around the while'^ncl
eat plums. As a result a small plum thicket grew up around ev<»--'>it: of
the early-day graves. A well-known resident of that section in

KICII ARDSOX Cf)L-XTV, XKBRASKA. . 299

a distance of sixteen miles from Salietha, he has counted thirteen of such
graves, all of them being directly on the old trail, which has now become a
highway. A few graves are scattered on adjacent farms. A famous one
is on the farm of Matthias Strahm, near Sabetha, which is called the McCloud
grave. McCloud was returning from California, when he was followed and
struck down by an enemy. It was afterward learned that McCloud was
not the party sought by his murderer.

OVERLAXn TRAIN DESCRIBED.

A regular train consisted of from forty to sixty wagons, each wagon
drawn by six or seven 3'oke of oxen. The driver of each team outfit walked
beside the wagon. The wagon boss rode on a pony and took great privilege
with the king's English. Each driver carried a whip over his shoulder
when not in use. The lashes on the whips were fifteen feet long. On either
side of the trails, for many years after the wagon travel ceased, could be
discerned plainly the footpaths made by these drivers. The regular gov-
ernment trains passed over the roads every two weeks ; in addition there
was a multitude of individual freighters. The great trails were sixty feet
wide and perfectly smooth. There were from five hundred to one thousand
tons in a train of fifty or sixty wagons. Wlien the wagon boss had secured
a camping place, the lead team made a circle; then the next team stopped
the front wheel against the front one's hind wheel, and so on until the
forty or sixty wagons were in a circle with an opening of only a rod or
two to leave the highway clear. At night the oxen were unyoked and
turned loose to graze, and regularly employed herders looked after them
until morning. The hind wheels of the wagons were as high as a man's
head, while the front wheels were no higher than those in use on wagons
of the present day. The tires of the wheels were four inches wide.

If there had been nothing other to lure people into the West in the
early days, there was the ever recurring stories of gold to be found in
the Western mountain slopes and these stories became greath' magnified
as they traveled Eastward. The press, too, of those days, was not adverse
to "playing up" the stories and the result was a rush to the mountains.
Such a rush occurred in 1859 when the great Tike's T'eak excitement was
on. There was a continuous stream of jienple, some of whom appeared in
grotesc^ue equipment. Men were on the trail with packs on their bucks, some
pushing carts, and others using every conceivable means of conveyance. In
these parties every man had a pick, spade and pan to be used in getting his

300 RICHARDSON COUNTV. NEBRASKA.

share of the coveted gold. On one occasion during this great rush to Pike's
Peak when the wagons had reached Julesburg, ninety miles from Denver, some
Irishmen were met who had gone out the previous year, but were now
returning empty-handed. They declared that there was no gold to be found,
that the stories circulated to the contrary were all humbug. This statement
caused a stampede Eastward again. Men on this trip declare that they
do not believe that there was a spot of ground on the trail for fifty miles
that did not show where a wagon had turned around and headed Eastward.

Tliis trail is now marked as the Rock Island highway, with the poles
painted with a ring of white and, where wagons with four to six inch
tires, heavy laden, were drawn by fourteen long-eared oxen at a gait ap-
proximating not more than two miles per hour. It is now a national high-
way for the high-powered auto in the hands of the tourists, who ma}'
speed along at forty or fifty miles per houh and negotiate the distance to
Pikes Peak in a couple or three days.

A few of the pioneer freighters still living can recall the gathering
of these immense trains of fifty or sixty wagons, ten to sixteen horses to
the wagon, as they would go into camp on the prairie for the night. The
big circle was made, fires built, horses, oxen or mules tied to the wagon
wheels or turned loose for the night while the party gathered under the
starry canopy of the heavens, to indulge in story or song and the few
straggling settlers of that day, drawn by the spectacle, would hover on
the outskirts, thrilled by the adventures of the traveler pilgrims who had
braved the desert, plain and Indian in quest of gold.

In 1861 a daily overland mail and stage line w-as established from the
river points west to the Pacific coast and with the exception of but a few
weeks in 1862-64-65, on accotint of the Indian uprisings, the service was
continuous for more than five years.

OVERLAND FARES.

The distance by the overland stage line from Atchison to Placerville
was 1,913 miles, and was the longest and most important stage line in
America. There were 153 stations between the above points, located about
twelve and one-half miles apart. The local fare was $225, or about twelve
cents per mile, and as high as $2,000 was frequenth- taken in at the Atchison
office for fare alone. The fare between the river points and Denver was $75,
or a little over 8 cents per mile, and to Salt Lake City, $150. Local fares
ran as higii as fifteen cents per mile. Each passenger was allowed t\vent\-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3OI

five pounds baggage, and all in excess of that amount was charged for at
the rate of $i per pound. During the war the fares ran as high as $ioo
and $175, or nearly 27 cents per mile.

It required 2,750 horses and mules to run the stage line between
Atchison and Placerville. It required, in addition to the regular supply of
horses to operate the stage lines, some additional animals for emergencies,
and it was calculated that the total cost of the horses on this stage line
was about $500,000. The harness used was the finest that could be made,
and cost about $150 for a complete set of four, or about $55,000 for
the whole line. The feeding of the stock was one of the big items of
expense, and there were annually consumed at each station from forty to
eighty tons of hay, at a cost of $15 to $40 dollars per ton. Each animal
was apportioned an average of twelve quarts of corn per day, which cost
from 2 to 10 cents per pound. On the Salt Lake and California divisions,
oats and barley, grown in Utah, was substituted for corn, but cost about
the same.

The stage coaches used by those lines were manufactured at Concord,
New Hampshire, and their quality made them famous wherever stages were
used. They were built to accommodate nine passengers inside, and one or
two could ride on the box with the driver. Some of the stages were built
with an extra seat above and in the rear of the driver, so that three addi-
tional persons could ride there, making fourteen, with the driver, and some
times an extra man would be crowded on the box, making as manv as fifteen
persons who could ride on the Concord coach without verv much incon-
venience.

The coaches cost about $1,000 each. and the company owned about 100
of them; besides which they were financially interested in about one-half
of the stations, in addition to thousands of dollars worth of miscellaneous
property, at different places on the lines. There was a crew of superintendents,
general and local attorneys, paymasters and division agents, all of whom
drew large salaries.

Those were the greatest stage lines the Western world has e\er known,
carrying passengers, mail and express. They were also regarded as the
safest and most rapid lueans of transit across the plains and mountain
ranges. The investment in the undertaking was huge and the cost of main-
tenance, like that of the railways of later days, gigantic, and the receipts
at the time seemed in keeping with the bigness of the enterprise. }et the
great loss soon to l>e sustained by those thus engaged with the coming

302 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of the railroad left many of them almost paupers, as their loss was enorm-
ous, the property being rendered practically worthless.

The Oregon trail was the best known of the trails in Xeljraska and the
first. It commenced at Indeijendence, a small town just east of the present
site of Kansas City, Missouri, and cutting across the northeast cnrner of
Kansas, struck the Nebraska state line near the dividing line between Gage
and Jefferson counties. The beginning of this trail in Nebraska was made
in 1813 by a party returning from the mouth of the Columbia river. This
party left no trail that might be followed, but their coming opened up the
way for others who traversed the ground later from both directions.

Father DeSmet, who knew the trail well and had traversed it, had
the following to say in describing a trip made with a compan\- uf Indians
in 185 1 : "Our Indian companions, who had never seen Init the narrow
hunting paths by which they transport themselves and their lodges, were
filled with admiration on seeing this noble highway, which is as smooth
as a barn floor swept by the winds, and not a blade of grass can shoot up on
it on account of the continual passing. They conceived a high idea of the
countless white nations. They fancied that all had gone over that road
and that an immense void must exist in the land of the rising sun. They
styled the route the 'Great Medicine Road of the Whites." " Some of the
wagon trains on these trails were flft\- miles long.

THE COMING OF THE RAILROADS.

During the early .settlement of the county, and in fact, until more re-
cent years, many projects and schemes were formeil for tlie building of
railroads across the cmmt}-, antl several were built — on paper — that ha\c
never to this da>" materialized. .\niong those were the St. Louis
& Nebraska Trunk railway. This road was to run northwest from
I'tulo, passing through Rulo, .\rago and St. Stephens precincts, ;md on to
Brownville and north to Omaha. For the Iniilding of this niilroad the iieople
were to issue to the railroad company $60,800 in bonds. The election to
vote on the proposition to issue the bonds was called for Jul\- (y, iSjj.
at which time the proposition was defeated, and the road \\a-~ ne\er l)uilt.
In the fall of 1875, what was then known as the Midland I'acitic railway.
by some, and by others, the balls City, l>rown\ille X: i-ort Kcarncx railway.
was projected. This road was to run from I'alls City to Xeniaha Cit\ ,
and from there to Brownville and Xcbrask.i City. in order to hel]) the
project along, I-'alls City voted ^jo.ooo and .\lufldy ])recinct, $i_'.ooo. and

^RDSOX COl-XTV

303

grading was commenced. During the grading of the bed, howexer, dissatis-
fied parties got into courts and tlie courts decided that the precincts had
no right to issue the bonds. Those of Falls City were destroyed in open
court by Judge Weaver, but the ones issued by Muddy precinct, for some
rea.son, were declared legal and had to be paid. The grading, however, was
all that was ever done to the road, part of which remains to this daw

Prior to either one of these projects, however, there were a few men
in Falls City, who, looking down through the years, could discern the
magnitude and development of the agricultural and shipping interests of
the county, well believing that so grand a producing county should have a
more rapid system of transportation for its productions than that offered
by the boats on the ^lissouri river, conceived the idea of Ijuilding a road
from Atchison to Falls City, and to continue from here up die vallevs
along the Xemaha with its objective point the city of Lincoln. A company
was formed for this purpose, with the following officers : John Force,
president: F. A. Tisdell, treasurer; J. F. Gardner, secretary; Ishani Reavis,
attorney: with the following board of directors: John Loree, August
Schoenheit, Daniel Reavis, Fdward S. Towle, F. A. Tisdell, D. T. Brinegar
and W. G. Sargent. The road was to be called the Xemaha Valley, Lincoln
& Loup F(irk rail\\ay. The building of the .\tchison & Nebraska rail-
road, however, "filled a long felt want" and the comix-\ny was dislianded.
without doing other business.

MOST IMPORTANT EN'ENT IN THE IIISTOKY OF COUNTY.

Without doubt the most momentous event in the historv of Richardson
county, the one which forever secured its future, which sped up its de-
\eloi)nient and brought a high tide of immigration, extended its commercial
activity, increased the selling value of every foot of real estate within its
Ixjrders, and opened up new homes for thousands of ])eople, who until then
had been awaiting its completion, was the railroad.

It is not necessary here to recite of the years of patient waiting and
hardships incident to the isolation that had gone before, or to dilate upon
the energy expended by those wiio had fought and worked to bring about
the building of the various roads, which had been proposed, Init never l)uilt.
and the consequent disappointment of many connected therewith. It is
rather for us to tell of the road that was built — the glorious consuniniatitm
of years of desire among the then pioneers. They did their part tlie while:
what they did do did not liring the mads they had hoped to see, nor through

30-I RICHARDSOX COl'NTY, NEBRASKA.

the territory they had hoped a road would follow, vet the sum total of all
the agitation did succeed in interesting capital in the building of a road
and that was what the people really wanted.

The first road to enter this part of the state and the one directly in-
teresting to us, was what was then known as the Atchison & Nebraska rail-
road, connecting southeastern Nebraska with Atchison, Leavenworth, and
Kansas City, which cities at the time were already connected by rail with
Mississippi river points and the East. The road is now known as a part
of the Burlington & Missouri, or Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy branch of
the Northern Pacific system.

The Atchison & Nebraska was one of the famous "Joy" roads and
was owned and controlled in Boston, Massachusetts; all of the directors,
except James F. Joy, Detroit, Michigan, and Col. P. T. Abell. of Atchison,
Kansas, were of Boston. This important line of railroad was projected
by Atchison citizens in 1868, Col. P. T. Abell being the prime mo\ er. Atchi-
son county voted $150,000 in bonds, Doniphan county, $200,000, in aid of
the building of the road. These bonds were expended in grading the line
from Atchison to Nebraska-Kansas state line, thirty-eight miles. Brown
& Bier, of Atchison, were contractors and built the road north to the state
line.

Every county along the entire line voted bonds in aid of this great
enterprise. In 1870 the road and its franchise were transferred to Hon.
James F. Joy. who immediately organized a new company. Hon. G. W.
Glick, of Atchison, was elected president of the first organization, which
position he filled with ability for several months, after it had passed into
the hands of Mr. Joy, when he resigned, and Col. P. T. Abell was duly
installed as president of the road. Colonel Abell discharged the duties of
president with distinguished ability. He was a thorough railroad man and
an able legislator, and did as much, if not more, for the organization, and
building of railroads than any man in northern Kansas. His best years
were spent in laboring for the railroad interests of Kansas and Nebraska.

Soon after the franchise was transferred to Mr. Joy, Col. O. Chanute
was appointed chief engineer, Maj. F. R. Firth, resident engineer and acting
superintendent, but Colonel Chanute was soon appointed superintendent of
the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston railroad, and Major Firth received
an appointment as chief engineer of the .\tchison & Nebraska railroad. Al-
though Major Firth was not yet twenty-five years of age, he manifested
ability of one twice his years. E. B. Couch was appointed cashier, and
Henry Deitz, supply agent, both excellent appointments. Soon after the

WII.I) AXIMAI.S AND BIRDS OF THE XOKTHWIOS'

■ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 305

building of the road commenced, E. L. Bostwick, was made chief carpenter,
which position he occupied while the road was being constructed.

On the 22nd day of September, 1870, the first rail was laid, and on the
loth day of January, 1871. the road was completed to the Nebraska state
line. It was the original intention of the projectors of this company to
follow the west branch of the Missouri river, via Brownville and Nebraska
City, to Omaha, but the inducements of the location were not sufficient, and
they decided on the location of what was chartered as the Burlington &
Southwestern railroad, and the property franchise of this road in Nebraska,
consisting of ten miles ironed and about thirty-five miles graded, were trans-
ferred to the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company.

ROAD REACHES FALLS CITY.

Grading was commenced in 1871 between the state line and the Rulo
"Y," where a junction with the Burlington & Southwestern was made. On
the Fofirth of July of that year the Atchison & Nebraska was opened to
Falls City, or at least to a point just east of the city (about a mile), known
as Piersons Point — a point of land jutting out on the bottom^ fifty miles
from Atchison. On the 6th of December following, the road was completed
to Table Rock in Pawnee county, eighty-four miles from Atchison.

Cold weather now set in, and the company deemed it best to suspend
operations until the following spring. Work was resumed about the ist
of April, 1872, and on the 15th of that month the line was open to Tecum-
seh, the seat of justice in Johnson county. In June, Capt. M. AI. Towne
accepted the appointment of assistant superintendent and W. \^'. Rhoads
was appointed acting general freight and ticket agent. Early in August
the road was completed to Lincoln, Nebraska. On the 27th day of the
same month, the first passenger train went through to the Nebraska state
capitol, a distance of one hundred and si.\ and one-half miles from Atchison.

The completion of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad opened up a
country that was unsurpassed from a farming and stock-raising point of
view — a combination of prairie, forest, river and valley. It penetrated a
country hitherto inconvenient to market, thus affording farmers and stock
raisers an excellent opportunity to market their production. It opened
up a business and social intercourse between the business men along and
contiguous to the road and the business men of Atchison and the East.
Their interests were closely identified and they worked earnestly togetlier
(20)

306 RICHARDSON COL-XTV, NEBRASKA.

for the promotion of every branch of commerce and trade. This fertile
country, which had so long been fated to blush unseen and waste its
sweetness on the desert air, was now brought into direct communication
with the rest of civilization. This wedding was formally solemnized
when was heard the whistle of the first iron horse which, with its train,
came roaring up the valley of the Nemaha, and with this invasion the
old West was crowded back farther toward the mountains.

The first great and deplorable accident and the one which caused the
death of the bright young superintendent, Major Firth, who had acted as the
first superintendent and had personally supervised the construction of the
road into this county, occurred at a point between Highland and Doniphan,
Kansas, on June 8, 1872, on the road he had built. He was riding on the
pilot of one of his engines when a bridge gave way and he was crushed
beneath the engine and died within two weeks. He died when engaged in
the faithful discharge of his duty to the railroad company. Immediately
after his death, Maj. F. O. ^^'yatt was appointed chief engineer, which
position he occupied, performing his duties intelligently and faithfully until
the 1st day of December, when lie resigned, and Col. Charles C. Smith was
given his place. Colonel Smith was a practical railroad man in every sense
of the word, and under his efficient management this popular through route
from St. Louis and the South and East to the Union Pacific, in a short
time became a trunk line and a great channel for rapidly increasing traffic
between the North and West and St. Louis. The road was substantially
built for those days of the best material, and the rolling stock was all new
and of the latest improved pattern for the time. Until that time no accident
had befallen any passenger over the line.

The completion of the road to this place came about just in time to
be celebrated jointly with the national holiday on the Fourth of July, 1871.
It must not, therefore, be presumed that the old-time people of this com-
munity did not take advantage of such an occasion to blow ofif some surplus
steam and give vent to their feelings at such a time. It came about in
this wise :

Tuesday, tlie I'ourth of July, was perhaps as favorable a day as
this season has offered — clear and bright, but not "hot"; a cool wind was
blowing all day, and certainly no one could have asked for a better day for
outdoor exercises. Notwithstanding, owing to the uncertainty of the appear-
ance of the locomotive on that day, without which the majority were in
favor of having no celebration, Sheriff Faulkner, of this county, as mar-
shal of the day, organized a procession and marched around town and to the

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3O7

grounds which had been arranged for the accommodation of tlie guests.
As ma}^ be sup])osed, the procession was not large, but- nevertheless interest-
ing, as it was headed by the Falls City brass band in their red, white and
blue-trimmed wagon. The band did well, and was the subject of many
compliments during the day. The orations, readings, etc., by different gentle-
men of this city, were all good, and the public dinner was a success, except
that a few perhaps failed to get their share in consequence of there Ijeing
a larger crowd than was expected, and more than there was provision made
for. .The most interesting part of the program to almost all, was that con-
cerning the excursion party, which commenced at about two o'clock, when,
the people started for the' terminus of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad,
where the excursionists were to stop. At 3 130 o'clock p. m., a whistle
was sounded, and shortly a train made its appearance. There were two
cars, one coach and one flat car, drawn by engine No. i. As soon as the
train stopped the band struck up a lively piece. After which they adjourned
to a grove close by.

Hon. Edwin S. Towle delivered the welcoming address, followed 1)y
Col. P. T. Abell, the president of the road, who spoke ably on the future
prospects of this state and Kansas, the railroad, etc. Judge Ishani Reavis
being called for, made his appearance and delivered a short and appropriate
address. G. W. Glick, later governor of the state of Kansas, was then
uproariously called for; he spoke at some length, and closed by inviting S. S.
Price, of Rulo, to address the assembly, which he did, closing the cere-
monies.

Among the excursionists were Messrs. Abel, Hartford, Quick, Gus
Byram, George W. Glick, Nelson Abbott, editor of the Atchison Patriot:
H. E. Nickerson. Alderson, C. Rohr, Doctor Challis, George Challis, W. W.
Guthrie, David Auld, Adam Bremer, C. H. Phillips, Frank Brier, P. Brown,
of Atchison ; Judge Price, of Troy, and others.

BRILLIANT BALL CLOSES DAY.

What the fore part of the day lacked in the way of agreeable amuse-
ments, certainly the evening and night made up for. At dusk the display
of fireworks was commenced and was kept up until a late hour, also about
the same time the Odd Fellows ball opened in the Journal building, which
owing to the large attendance, good music, the excellent floor and ample
room, was certainly a success. In this connection we may state one remark-
able fact — the lady guests were in excess of the gentlemen, which was

308 RICIIARDSDN COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

contrary to all precedent in Falls City. Heretofore we had expected to see
at least fonr gentlemen to one lady. The (juestion was where did they
come from ? \\'h)-, there were more [jeople here now than we had had
at our last hall: liesides there were people here from all parts of the county
and from Kansas. The hall party took supper, at the cit\- hotel. In this.
Mr. Collins, of that popular house, had an opportunity to show what he
could do' in the way of getting up meals for special occasions, and he took
advantage of it. The supper was CNxellent, and reflected much credit upon
the house, its proprietor and the landlady, under whose personal supervision
the tahles were arranged. Ahout fort\- couples were seated at one time at
the tables.

The railroad was now here, a reality, and writing to Mr. W. S. Stretch,
the editor of the Xciiiaha J 'alley Journal, of Falls City, V. R. Firth, super-
intendent of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, said: "I have issued an
order to have a long whistle blown half an hour before trains leave Trails
City, so as to gi\e passengers ample time to get to the trains."

In further celebration of the completion of the road, word was re-
ceived here on Thursday morning that it was the intention of the managers
of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad to give a grand free excursion to
Atchison on Friday, the 7th inst. Accordingly on F"riday morning, a large
number of our citizens went to the end of the track near town, and at about
7:30 o'clock a. m., found themselves gliding smoothly along over a Rich-
ardson count}- railway for the first time. Among the part\- were some of
our most prominent business men, wjio intended to see for themselves the
far-famed cit}- of Atchison, and the beautiful country which the new road
opened up. The gentlemanly conductor. Mr. J- Wiseman, did all in his
power to render the party comfortable, and w ith his efficient corps of attaches.
succeeded admirably. The road was one which would compare favorably
with any in the state at that time, being solidly bifilt. well ballasted, and
good bridges, etc.

At 8:10 Rulo was announced, where a large party joined them, swelling
the number to (}ver five hundred persons, .\fler the train had fairly started on
its gratuitous mission, the excursionists formed themselves into small parties
all through the train, where vocal music, jovial conversation, etc.. tended t"
enliven the spirits of the already hapjiy crowd.

.\fter a pleasant four hours ride through the beautiful valleys of the
Xeniaha and Missouri, during which they feasted their e\es upon some of
the nio^t ni;ignificenl scener\ in the wurld. thev arri\ed .al the busy city

RICIIARDSOX COUXTV, NEBRASKA. 3OO

of Atchison. Mayor Smith, in a hriei speech, welcomed them to the city,
and tendered them the hospitahties of the citizens. He closed by introducing
Judge Mills, also of. Atchison, who spoke at some length, of the Nemaha
Valley and the Atchison & Nebraska railroad. Falls City, etc.

Judge Reavis, of Falls City, being called for, said that he had not in-
tended addressing the enlightened citizens of Atchison, and therefore, begged
to introduce his young and eloquent friend, Capt. George \'an De\ enter.
\'an DeVenter was in his element. With his wanton aptitude he jx)rtrayed,
in glowing terms, the rapid advancement of the great West, what it had
been and what it is, and closing with a pleasing compliment to the citizens
of the Nemaha Valley, Atchison and L^alls City. With three rousing cheers
for Atchison, Falls City and the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, the partv
dispersed for dinner.

After dinner quite a number of excursionists procured carriages and
visited various points of interest in the city. The excursionists were uni-
versally treated with great cordiality by the citizens of Atchisnn, who were
undoubtedly a go-ahead and progressive people. They found the citv to
be growing rapidly. Business of all kinds was in flourishing condition,
and they were agreeably surprised at the metropolitan aspect of the citv.

At 3 130 p. m. they started on the return trip, fully convinced that Atchi-
son's prospects for becoming the city of the Missouri river was very flatter-
ing, and that ere long it would command the immense trade of the entire
Missouri \'alley.

The ladies were prettw the gentlemen good natured and the day pleasant,
and all tended to make tlie entire part\- enjoy themselves hugeh-, wliich
they undoubtedly did. Doctor Horn, the genial local of the Patriot, said
that without saying anything in any way detrimental to Atchison, he was
of the opinion that Falls City excelled in handsome ladies. Imt being a
married man he could not accept of many fine opportunities.

Messrs. Dolan & Ouigg, the enterprising wholesale grocers and li(|U(ii
dealers of Atchison, tendered the hospitalities of their large establishment
to the party, who were in no way backward in accepting thereof.

The train consisted of seven coaches and two flat cars, drawn lj\- enginu
No. 12, George Rapp. engineer, and were filled to overflowing.

A meeting was organized on July 7, 1871, l)y the b'alls City delegation
on board the above train on its return trip to that place and the f(illi)\ving
proceedings were had :

3IO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

On motion of ]\Iaj. John Loree (father of Charles Loree), Judge
Thomas Spragins was called to the chair, and Howard Leland was ap-
pointed secretary. The judge on assuming the chair said :

Ladies and gentlemen of Falls City: We have enjoyed one of those
da)'s that come to a people 1)ut once in a lifetime. A hundred iron roads
ma\- he Iniilt to and through our growing little city, but the same joyous
emotions that have swelled our hearts this day will not come with them.
It is like the first baby in a family — the little stranger is such a stranger.
But do not let me further occupy the time of the meeting. I understand
the object is to express, in some appropriate manner, our appreciation of
the kindness of the ofificers of the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company,
and t(i thank them for the many courtesies they have extended to our people
on this occasion. What is the further pleasure of the meeting?

On motion of Charles H. Rickards (the present county assessor of
this county), a committee of three was appointed by the chair to draft reso-
lutions expressing of the sentiment of the meeting. The chair appointed
Maj. John Loree, the Hon. W. M. Maddox and Martin Ryan as said com-
mittee.

^^''hile the committee was absent in the discharge of its dut\-. the meet-
ing was regaled by our young and promising townsman, George \'an De
\'enter. in one of his most happy and telling speeches. The speech cannot
be given here, it would have required a corps of phonographic reporters lu
catch his glowing words as they dropped in rapid succession from his elo-
quent lips. Init those who heard him on that day were slow to forget the
occasion.

The committee on resolutions through their chairman. Maj. John Loree.
made the following report, which was adopted unanimously amid the most
intense enthusiasm :

NVhereas, Through the kindness of Col. P. T. .\bell, the able president,
and Major Firth, the gentlemanly and efificient superintendent of the .Atchi-
son & Nebraska railroad, we Iiave this day en. joyed one of the most delightful
pleasure excursions of our lives, and

Whereas. It is our desire to express more publicly our appreciation
of this mark of their friendly regard as well as to bear testimony to the
abilitv and energy of these gentlemen and their associates, who in the
prosecution and management of the affairs of what in our judgment, is the
most significant enterprise in the Northwest, have furnished their fellow
citizens indubitable evidence that difficulties, however difficult, may still lie
mastered, therefore, be it

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3II

Resolved, That the thanks of the whole people of the Valley of the
Nemaha are due, and in their name we hereby tender same to the officers
and employees of the railroad for the courtesies extended to us today, no
less than for the immeasurable benefits conferred upon us in the construc-
tion of the iron road in our beautiful valley.

That we hereby pledge our hearty support to the company in the further
construction of the road, and we heartily recommend that every citizen in
the valley, from Rulo to Lincoln, do all that men may do to further the
great enterprise, until the accomplished fact shall be a continuous line of
railwav in our midst which shall reach from sea to sea.

That we never felt better in our lives, and especially are we glad that
we visited Atchison.

That the secretary be directed to furnish a copy of these proceedings
to the local press for publication and that this meeting adjourn with three
cheers for the people of Atchison and the Atchison & Nebraska railway.

Thomas Spragins. president.

Howard Leland, secretary.

RETURN VISIT BY ATCHISON CITIZENS.

On Saturday, July 9, 1871, the myriads of good people of Atchison,
through the kindness of the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company visited
our citv on half-fare tickets. They arrived at alx)Ut half-past twelve, and
were transferred to the hotels in buggies, carriages, lumber wagons, and
every other description of conveyances that could be engaged for the oc-
casion. Thev remained in town about two hours, or about long enough to
supply the inner man with something substantial, and then took their depar-
ture for home. Owing to the general "hub-bub" and hurry to get back
to their train for fear of being late, it was impossible for the people here
to get a list of or make the acquaintance of many of them.

But it was observed that there were about five hundred visitors in the
crowd, and an intelligent one, besprinkled with a goodly share of the fair
sex, whose beautiful faces, agreeable manners and elegant attire were the
subject of much admiration among the Nemaha Valleyites. Our hotel men
were unable to get but few of the names registered, though their guests
might be numbered by hundreds. The following registered at the City and
Union Hotels: City Hotel— F. E. Sheldon, C. E. Peck, A. H. Martin, J.
D. Higgins, A. H. Allen, W. S. Thacker, S. Collins, L. E. Gordon, J. Wilson
and ladies, C. E. Gavlord, H. Denton, L. Gilbert, Sarah Riddle. D. Dickerson,

312 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Nancy Riddle, D. C. Hull, \\\ A. Foley, A. A. Parson, ^I. Gerber, F ^1.
Parsons, J. F. Pigin, E. Parson, J. P. Smith, D. S. IMcKinney, \\'. F. Onnis,
C. M. Abbott, M. Utt, J. Wiseman and lady, H. M. McDaus, J. ^f. Idol
and lady, J. Hehn, J. Reisner, W. McKee, E. Shaw, T. J. Ward and family,
H. Barnes, G. \"an Camp and lady, B. Miller, \Y. B. Bull, Judge Mills,
H. B. Horn, Miss Ella ^IcFarland. Union Hotel— \\'. H. Mann, S. \V.
Bivins, B. Teemey, H. H. Wood. W. Straw, M. A. Albright. J. M. Cro-
well, J. Hoke and lady, F. K. Armstrong, Miss Louie Flick, W. S. Good-
rich, Shaw Beery and ladv, P. C. Hugh, ^^lollie Moore, P. T. Abell, Miss
Ahell, L. T. Woolfork, Miss Zull, C. H. Caller, B. W. Forbes, F. ^L
Pierce, G. L. Moore, J- ^^^ Mussey, B. S. Campbell and family, A. T.
Onis. D. C. Jagglers and wife. J- E- Ingles, W. F. Goodrich, C. H. Chass-
ney, Z. Smith, S. Gourner, A. J. Brown, G. H. Rapp, J. C. Dudley, W. R.
Smith, P. Z. Owens, H. :\IcCormick, H. Smith, F. M. A'anner, F. H. Smith,
N. Thomas, J. W. Lincoln, J. Millard, P. T. Abell, Jr.

FIRST TIME TABLE PUT IN EFFECT.

The first time schedule of this road was put into effect during the
week of July 13, 1871, between this city and Atchison. It embraced four
trains a day — two arrivals and two departures. The accommodation train
left Falls City at 7:15 o'clock in the morning and the mail and express at
2 :45 o'clock in the afternoon and the accommodation arrived from the
South or East at i 135 o'clock in the afternoon, and the mail and express
at 7 130 o'clock, night. Parties desiring to visit .Atchison could leave Falls
City at 7:15 o'clock a. m., and return home at 7:30 p. m., giving them three
hours and ten minutes to spend in Atchison at an expense of $4.

FIRST RAILROAD STATION AGENT.

Charles Loree, the present ( 191 7) clerk of the district court, who had
been employed b\- the .\tchison & Nebraska Railroad Company as car ac-
countant in the }ards at .Atchison, although a resident of Falls Cit\-, was
appointed as the first station agent at Falls City and rode the first train in
to arrive at this point. He had his new office for nearly a month, or until
August 1st, in conjunction with that of Dr. H. O. Hanna, who occupied
rooms in a building located on the present site of the Samuel W'ahl &
Company's store at the corner of Fifteenth and Stone streets in block
Xo. loj. In .\ugust. 1871. he bmisht ior himself a desk and took uii

ICHAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

313

quarters with Joseph Burbank in the latter's grain office, near the present
site of the BurHngton & Missouri depot and there remained until a depot
which, at the time was under construction, was completed. His office was
the western headquarters of the construction crew of engineers until the
latter moved on further west as the building of the road progressed. No
tickets were received or sold until September and the patrons of the road
were obliged to make settlement with the conductors of the trains. He
served for alx)ut a year, or until the coming of the telegraph, when he
gave the place to another, as he had had no training in the use of the Morse
code and the road at that time had insufficient business to require the presence
or expense of more than one man at this point.

The first noticeable effect of the railroad was to cut rates on the shipping
of produce. In the years immediately preceding, much of the produce of
the farms in this section had either to be hauled to Rulo, .\rago or other
river points for the steamboats, or was taken to Hamlin or Hiawatha in
Kansas, for transportation. Besides the distance that had to be covered
the prices were high. The rate from Falls City to Troy Junction, thirtx-
eight miles, was first fixed at $18 or 9 cents per hundred and to Atchison,
a distance of fifty-five miles, $28 or 14 cents per hundred. At this time
but one freight boat was still doing business — the "Elkhorn." The river
boats had suffered from the first (in 1866), with the advent of tlie railroad's
coming to Kansas and Missouri, and points further south and the further
extension north acted at once to put them out of business that would be
profitable to them.

PICNIC GROUNDS.

At the second crossing of the Xemaha river coming up from Atchison,
and in this county midway between Rulo and Falls City, in point of north-
west quarter of southwest quarter of section 22, township No. i, north of
range 1,7, about a nu'le east of the present village of Preston and east of
the Nemaha river, was a tract of about ten acres of land owned bv the
railroad company. In Augu.st, 1871, Major Firth had these grounds laid
off into one of the finest picnic grounds that could at that time be found
in two states. These acres were heavily covered with natural timber and
the compan\- had them cleared of brush, weeds and rubbish and sowed to
blue grass. .\ fence was built and a broad platform made at the railroad,
an ice house set in the bank of the river, and board tents put up in various
places. This soon became one of the most attractive places in the valley
and peo])Ie came by tlie hundreds from Atchison. Doniphan, Hiawatha and

314 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

all over this county. Many big events took place there and it continued
popular until its beauty was destroyed by the floods and storms in later
years.

The Atchison & Nebraska railroad was completed to Salem by the
24th of August, 1871, and the regular trains all ran west to that place
and connected with the stages for Humboldt, Table Rock, Pawnee City,
Beatrice and Tecumseh and all points north and west.

FIRST DEPOT AT FALLS CITY.

The first railroad depot consisted of five rooms, a freight room on the
west, twenty-nine by thjrty-six feet, a neat little ticket office on the south-
east corner, ladies waiting room on the northeast, and gents waiting room
on the south center — the entire building being thirty by sixty feet, with a
twelve-foot platform all around it, and twelve by one hundred feet on the
front or south side. Two or three hundred yards east of the depot was
a turntable, and about a mile farther east was a water tank, which was
supplied with a wind wheel for pumping water. Burbank & Holt had a
grain warehouse just west of the depot, at which place they bought grain.
Keim & Maust at once built an elevator a few rods east of the depot. Coal
was delivered from Ft. Scott to patrons in Fall City at from thirty to thirty-
five cents per bushel, while wood was selling here at three dollars and a half
per cord.

The Atchison & Nebraska railroad reached Humboldt the first week in
October, 1871, and on Friday, October 6, 1871. the citizens of Humboldt
were given an excursion to Atchison, Kansas.

ATCHISON & NEBRASKA CITY R.\ILRO.\D.

On May 5, 1867, the charter of the Atchison & Nebraska City Railroad
Company was filed in the office of the secretary of the state of Kansas.
The original incorporators of this road were Peter T. Able, George W.
Click, Alfred G. Ottis, John M. Price, W. W. Cochrane, Albert H. Horton,
Samuel A. Kingman, J. T. Hereford and August Byram, all ni whom were
citizens of Atchison, Kansas. The charter provided for the cmistructiun of
a railroad "from some point in the City of Atchison to some point on the
north line of the state of Kansas, not farther west than twenty-five miles
from the Missouri river, and the lengtli of the proposed railroad will not
exceed forty-five miles."

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3I5

Shortly after the road was incorporated the name was changed to the
Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company, and under this name subscrip-
tions and bonds, and capital stock were made in Atchison and Doniphan
counties. Atchison county subscribed $150,000, and in addition to the sub-
scription of the county, there were individual subscriptions amounting to
$80,000 in the county. Work was commenced on the road in 1869, and
it was completed in 1871 to the northern boundary of Doniphan county,
three miles north of White Cloud, Kansas. The stockholders of the Atchi-
son & Nebraska graded the roadbed to the state line north from Atchison,
constructed bridges and furnished the ties, after which the entire property
was given to a Boston syndicate in consideration of the completion and
operation of the railroad. This railroad was afterwards consolidated wuth
the Atchison, Lincoln & Columbus Railroad Company of Nebraska, which
railroad had been authorized to construct a railroad from the northern termi-
nal point of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad to Columbus, on the Union
Pacific railroad, by way of Lincoln, and the railroad was completed to
Lincoln in the fall of 1872. This consolidated road was purchased by the
Burlington & Missouri Railroad Company in 1880.

The first railroad built between the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers
was the Hannibal & St. Joseph, which was completed to St. Joseph, Mis-
souri, February 23, 1859, and the new railroad from Atchison connected
with the Hannibal & St. Joseph at the latter point.

RICHARDSON COUNTY PEOPLE ENTERTAINED .\T ATCHISON.

Thursday, June 15, 1882, was a day long remembered by those who
went to Atchison, Kansas, on an excursion and partook of the hospitality
of that generous city, the occasion being the completion of the Missouri
Pacific line through to Omaha.

The morning of that memorable day dawned with threatening rain,
but despite this, those who held tickets were up early and preparing for
the trip. At eight o'clock it began and it looked very much as if the festivi-
ties of the day would be marred, but fortune favored us and by noon the
clouds had disappeared and the sun came forth with such a blaze and splendor,
that those who had taken the precaution to clothe themselves in heavy
apparel regretted the deed.

.'Xt 9:10 o'clock a. m.. the train having on board the excursionists
from the towns farther to the north, drew up at the depot in Falls City
and our delegation was soon seated in the car set apart for tiieir accom-

3l6 RICllAUnSdN "OUXTV, NEBRASKA.

moclation. In a few minutes "all aboard" was shouted li_\- the conductor
and away we whirled. At Hiawatha the train was stopped long entnigh to
take on board their quota of excursionists and the band and once more
the journey was resumed. From Hiawatha to Atchison the train passed
over as fine a country as the sun ever shone upon. Those who gazed out
upon the country for the first time were so charmed with its appearance
that they were mute with astonishment. This road was unlike most of the
roads built early in the West, in that it does not run along the creeks and
valleys, but passes through one of the loveliest and most fertile sections
of the West, along high divides, where the view nn either side is almost
illimitable.

While the excursionists were in the zenith of their pleasure and pre-
paring to make their debut in the cit}-. an accident occurred, which, but
for the coolness of the engineer, the excursion might have been turned into
a funeral. While rounding a curve, the train running about twenty miles
an hour, a cow was discovered standing upon the track. The engineer
knew that to stop would only enhance the danger of a wreck and his only
hope was to knock the cow clear of the track. He acted on this hypothesis
and throwing the valve wide open, the train sprang forward to the accomp-
lishment of his designs. The cow was thrown from the track but the l)ank
being so steep at that point she rolled back just in time to throw the front
trucks of the tender off the rails. The track was instantly sanded by the
cool and nervy engineer, brakes put on and engine reversed and the train
stopped at the very edge of the trestle work of a bridge thirty feet alxive
the bed of a stream. To the coolness of the engineer the lives of the
excursionists were due, and many, if not all, of the party t(^i)k time to give
verbal expression of their sincere appreciation.

While the work of putting the tender on the track w;.s going on the
passengers took occasion to get ofif and stretch themselves. The band akso
came on terra firma and discoursed some fine music, .\fter an hour's
dela\- the welcome sound of "all aboard" was heard and the party was
en route once more for their destination, where they arrived without further
mishap.

N'ISITORS KECEIXE A WARM WELCOME.

.\t the dejjot awaiting their arrival was a large crowd, who had began
to grow impatient at the ncin-arrival of the train, when it came into view.
.\s the train drew up at the station there was such a shout as must have
awakened the iMilated "rush lidttumer" from his noon-dav nap. .Xccnrding

RICHARnSOX COIWTY. NEBRASKA.

317

to instructions of the committee, who had accompanied the train from I'alls
City to Atchison, the party was formed in hne, each town in a hody, and
headed by Col. John A. ]\Iartin and Henry Clay Park, with bands playing,
the procession moved to Apollo Hall, where a banquet awaited them.

The whole city of Atchison was gaily decorated with bunting, ever-
green and other attractive material and presented a very beautiful appear-
ance, which was conclusive evidence that the hosts had spared neither pains
nor mone)- to make the occasion one long to be remembered.

Apollo Hall, at which place the ladies presided, was transformed into
a beautiful banquet room by the tasteful arrangement of decorative mate-
rial; festoons of red and white bunting were gracefully hung along the
walls, the chandeliers were wrapped in evergreens, and long loops of leaves
and flowers crossed each other in every direction and added greatly tf) the
artistic merit of the arrangement. In the center of the floor a magnificent
pyramid of fruits and flowers was arranged, and from this center jjiece
the tables were arranged to form a Maltese, cross — and each table bore
cjuantities 'of tempting viands of the most appetizing- description. Beautiful
bouquets enhanced the beauty of the spread, and at each plate a charming
button-hole bouquet was placed. In the windows were potted flowers in
bloom and all sorts of foliage plants. The ro(jm was ful| of fragrance and
beauty, and made a banquet hall fit for a king.

Covers had been laid for three hundred guests, and as the partv filed
in they were seated at the tables by the ladies in attendance, and were
surprised and delighted wdth the magnificent dinner provided. There were
a number who were not seated at the first tables, because of lack of space,
and these and the Hiawatha band occupied the gallery, at intervals the
band playing beautiful selections to enliven the feast. The ser\ice could
not have been Isetter. A number of ladies were stationed at each table
who quietly, gracefully and hospitably served everything the guests desired.
Room was soon made for the waiting guests and the band in the gallery,
and when all had been seated and pro\ided for, Henry Clay Park, who
acted as toastmaster. or master of ceremonies, introduced i\Iayor King, who
said that in his pfiicial capacity it became his pleasant duty to thank the
guests for their acceptance of their invitations and to extend to them a
hearty welcome. In behalf of the citizens of .\tchison, he extended a warm
and hospitable welcome and greeting.

On behalf of the visiting ])arty, .\. H. Gilmore, of Auburn, Nebraska,
returned the thanks of the \isitors to the mayor and people of Atcliison

3l8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

for their magnificent reception, and stated that the meeting would undoubtedh-
redound to the material advantage of both sections now connected with
the new railroad.

POSTPRANDIAL PROCEEDINGS.

After the banquet came toasts and responses by Col. A. S. Everst,
of Atchison, Judge August Schoenheit, of Falls City, Rev. Dr. Krohn.
of Atchison, and Webster Wilder of the Hiawatlia World, in the order named.
The responses were short and appropriate and greatly enjoyed by those
present.

At this point a dispatch was read from the Board of Trade at St.
Joseph, Missouri, inviting the excursionists to that place. It was moved that
the thanks of the excursionists be extended to the people of St. Joseph
for their kind invitation, but as they were in good hands it behooved them
to remain, but at some future time a proposition of this kind would be
entertained. The motion was carried unanimously.

Recognizing the fact that it was a day to entertain and not a da)-
to transact business, the business men of Atchison threw all care aside
and devoted themselves exclusively to making their guests comfortable and
happy. The exercises in the evening consisted of a display of the fire de-
partment, Knights of Pythias drill, flambeau parade and fireworks, concert
at Turner Garden Hall and a ball at Apollo Hall, all of which was wit-
nessed and highly enjoyed by the visitors. The only part of the program
that was omitted was the failure of the balloon to ascend, which was due
to an accident overtaking it just at the time it was expected to have gone
up. But there were so many other attractions that the failure of this event
to happen caused but little comment. At 1 1 .^o p. m. the guests took leave
of Atchison and returned by a train which was made up and awaiting
them at the depot.

ST. LOUIS AND NEBRASKA TRUNK RAILRO.\D.

A proposition to vote bonds for the building of this road was suli-
mitted to the voters of Richardson county in the summer of 1872. This
called for the issuance of $22,300 by Rulo precinct; Arago, $25,500, and
$13,000 from St. Stephens precinct. The bonds were to be issued by
September i, 1872, to run twenty years and bear eight per cent, interest.
\Vhen issued they were to be placed in the hands of three trustees and by
them held until the completion of the contract b\- the railroad company.

RirHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3I9

A provision was stipulated therein, however, that upon the completion of
five miles of grading and bridging, Rulo precinct should give $2,500 per
mile for that portion of the line running through said precinct, and $500
and $1,000, respectivel)^ for the portion of the line in the north precincts
of Arago and St. Stephens. Arago was to give $2,000 and St. Stephens
$1,500 per mile, at the same time, and under the conditions as above cited
for Rulo precinct. The road was to be completed by September i, 1873,
and the election at which the above was submitted was held on July 6, 1872.
The bonds did not carry.

KANSAS AND CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

A railroad under the above title was projected to run from the city
of Leavenworth, Kansas, along the Missouri, north to Rulo and thence to
Arago and St. Stephens. It had been arranged to have a branch line go
west up the valley of the Muddy and on north to Lincoln. This line never
got farther than the most of the paper railroads of those days, but was a
subject for much comment and of great concern to the people of the east
end precincts.

In the fall of 1875, the Midland Pacific railroad, the line now owned
and a part of the Burlington System, from Nebraska City to Lincoln, graded
a roadbed from Nemaha City to Falls City, a distance of twenty-two miles.
For this extension, i. e., from Nemaha City to Fails City, Falls City voted
$70,000 in ]x)nds, on which seventy per cent, was to be paid on the com-
pletion of the grading. Pending the completion of the work, it was decided
by the courts that the precinct could not legally issue bonds, and if they
should issue them, could not be held liable for the payment of either principal
or interest. This resulted in the non-completion of the road. The only
bonds issued were the first installment of those due from Muddy precinct,
amounting to $12,000.

A meeting of the stockholders of the Nenialia \"alley, Lincoln & Loup
Fork Railway was held on February 27, 1869, and John Loree, August
Schoenheit, Daniel Reavis, Edwin S. Towle, F. A. Tisdell, David T. Brine-
gar and \V. G. Sergent were chosen directors for the ensuing year. The
officers of the road were John Loree, president; F. A. Tisdell, treasurer;
J. F. Gardner, secretan^; Isham Reavis, attorney. About March ist of
the same year, John Loree and August Schoenheit, of this road, met with
the directors of the Atchison & Nebraska railwav, and a consolidation was

320 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

agreed upon, after which the Nemaha \'alley. Lincohi & Loup Fork rail-
way disappeared from the records. It was not built.

The Southern Nebraska & Northern Kansas. This railway was proj-
ected in 1870, and was to receive $10,000 in bonds from the county, but
never graded more than one hundred feet of road bed and passed out of
practical existence.

The Kansas & Nebraska Narrow Gauge. This was another of the list
of paper railroads which never amounted to anything but talk.

The Missouri Pacific. On April 26, 1876, the directors of the Mis-
souri Pacific considered a proposition submitted by citizens along the towns
of the proposed line to build a road from Falls City to Plattsmouth, at
a distance of about ten miles from the Missouri river, taking the present
route from Atchison, Kansas, to Falls City, and between Plattsmouth and
Omaha, using the Burlington & Missouri River railroad tracks. A delegation
from Nebraska was present at this meeting and consisted of D. H. Wheeler,
J. A. Horback, T. P. Kennard. J. T. Hoile. S. S. Caldwell. J. G. Klopper
and R. W. Furnace. The report of the road was delivered by Mayor Brown,
and was a rejection of the ofifer made, accompanied by the reasons for such
action too numerous to mention in detail.

In 1881, the Missouri Pacific entered the county at a point a few miles
southwest of Falls City and the road was completed through the county
during the following year.

The Burlington & Southwestern. This road, sometimes called the "Joy"
road, was begun in December, 1869, and built ten miles from Rulo in
order to secure the bonds voted for it, which were due on the completion
of that amount of work. These bonds amounted to $3,500 per mile, and
were exclusive of the land grant to the railroad company. In the spring
of 1870, grading was continued up the Nemaha bottoms and in June of
that year the road was sold to the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, of which
]'. T. Abel was president. Joshua Tracy was vice-president and J. K. Hornish.
superintendent of the Burlington & Southw^estern.

The St. Joseph & Nemaha. The St. Joseph & Nemaha Railroad Com-
pany once made a sur\-ey of a route of a railroad from the mouth of the
Great Nemaha to Tecumseh, in Johnson county, nearly the present route
of the Atchison & Nebraska division of the Burlington, but beyond the
survey, under Fix. -Gov. Robert Stewart, of Missouri. 'nothing was ever done.

Other lines talked of in recent years, and for a time considered some-
what seriously, have been rail cmniection with the Sycamore Springs in

RICHARDSOX COrXTY, NEBRASKA. 32I

tlie south central part of the county; but the one most referred to is rail
connection with the northeast section of the county, where the immense
apple production has attracted so much attention in the last decade.

NOTES ON THE BUILDING OF THE MISSOURI PACIFIC.

The new station located in Porter precinct has been named "Stella,"
after the daughter of Mr. Clarke, the founder of the town and the owner
of the land upon which the town is to be located. Already, preparations
are going on to build soon as the spring opens. The depot grounds and
stock yards are being laid out, and arrangements for the building of a large
elevator. Stella is beautifully located and promises to become quite a place.
Of course the Porterites are happy. — Falls City Xcu's. January 5. 1882.

January 5, 1882 — The Missouri Pacific is now built within six miles
of Carson City, in Nemaha county.

Engineer Wright, who has charge of the first nineteen miles of road
of the Missouri Pacific out of Atchison, spent last Sunday in the city. He
informs us that regular trains will run between Atchison and Omaha bv
the 15th of March. — Falls City Ncws_, January 5, 1882.

The Hall Station boom has petered out. The owner of the lands wanted
to get rich too fast. For instance, corner lots, in his estimation, are worth
$300 and resident lots from $50 to $100. The company did not see it in
this light and moved on to Porter precinct. Lots at this place can be
had at from $5 to $10 each. — Falls City Ncivs, January 5, 1882.

August 3, 1882 — On Saturday, last, we made a flying visit t(^ the
thriving little village of Stella, situated about twenty miles northwest of
Falls City on the line of the Missouri Pacific railroad. There is in the
village about fifty houses all told, including four general stores, two drug
stores, two hardware stores, two lumber yards, two restaurants, cMie bil-
liard hall, one harness shop, one barljer shop, two blacksmith shops, one
grocery store, two meat markets, one photograph gallery, one livery stable,
two physicians, one millinery and dressmaking establishment, and a fine hotel
building just finished. The Gird Brothers have the material on liand, and
will soon issue the first number of a paper to be called Tlic Stella Tribune.
The new station is kept by Mr. J. S. Mason, formerly of Missouri. Mr.
Mason is well liked by the business men of Stella, being pleasant and ac-
commodating. Stella in time will be one of the most important .shipping
stations between Falls City and Omaha. — Falls City News.
(21;)

^22 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

[E COMING OF THE AUTOMOBILE.

The automobile as a means of transportation came I)ut slowly into use
in Richardson county and until tlie last year or two has remained princi-
pally as a \ehicle of pleasure.

The first automobile to make its appearance in the west end of the county
was at Humboldt and appeared in 1898 or 1899 and was owned by Louis
Slama. a Bohemian jeweler, who at the time had a shop in the city and gave
his principal attention to the sale and repair of watches. He was one of the
first to adopt the "safety" bicycle and being of an inventive turn became at
once interested in power vehicles or "horseless carriages'' as they were some-
times called in those days.

Slama built the engine which he used in his first automobile, using steam
as a driving power, and made the entire equipment for his machine with the
exception of the wheels and tires, which he ordered from an Eastern firm.
He worked at spare moments for some months in assembling and perfecting
the entire machine, but when completed it was found to be practical and he
was able to go about the country and negotiated some of the steepest hills and
grades. As compared to some of the gas machines which made their appear-
ance at about the same period his machine was really superior, as the gas
engine at the time had not been so far perfected as now and was not so
generally understood when applied as a power for driving an autmobile. It
is needless to say that his machine, which in general appearance was very much
like the single-seated gas cars comnK)n in tliose days, made a commotion in
the community, ^^^^enever and wherever he appeared he was tlie cynosure of
all eyes and he never lacked for company on his rides about the countryside.

The next machine to make its appearance in Humboldt was owned by
F. \y. Samuel'^on, president of the First National Bank, and was a single-
seated gas-driven auto (single-cylinder type") of the Olds manufacture. The
Tittle machine in appearance looked fine, liut gave Mr. Samuelson more trou-
ble than anvthing he had probalily ever tried to operate. As measured by
the more recent tvpes of machines it lacked much that goes to make a practical
machine f^r country roads, but he had lots of sport witli it and was able
to get about the country to some extent.

Frank Xims and Frank Blakeney, now residents of b~alls City, but in
former times resident of farms in the west end of the county, were the next
to berrme interested in autos. were pioneer owners of machines and contril>
uted mucii in the introduction of antomoliiies in the count}'. The latter re-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 323

maincd ever a lover of the auto and has sold hundreds of them to the farmers
of the county.

Daniel Blakeney, die father of Frank Blakeney mentioned al)Ove, was
one of the first to conceive tlie idea of the commercial value of the auto for
use on the country roads, estahlished the first auto livery in the county at
Falls City and equipped himself with a number of machines. Being faster
than horses he thought to use them on tlie country roads for hauling passen-
gers about the county and solicited the trade ni die traveling salesmen whose
business took them to the smaller towns. The business at that time was not
a success for many reasons, among which principall}- was the imperfection
of the early machines and the lack of good roads. After operating for some
time under these and other disadvantages the business was discontinued. It
must be rememl)ered that this kind of business was undertaken by Mr. Blake-
ney in the very early stages of the introduction of the automobile in Richard-
son county, and die machines he used were the first to make their
appearance here.

The first auto ever to travel the streets of Falls City under its own
power was brought here by a circus and was listed as one of the big exhibits
of the show. The first machine ever owned in Falls City was, like the one
mentioned above, made by a mechanic, ]\I. N. Bair, residing there, and was
as successfully used and proved as much of a curiosity as the one abo\e
referred to.

The ne.xt to own a machine at b'alls City was .\lbert ^laust, wiio liad
his machine in 1905-06 and was much envied 1j\- his friends as he was seen
going about the town. Mr. Maust was engaged in the business of bu\ing of
grain and live stock from the farmers adjacent to the city and soon incurred
the enmity of many of his patrons, from the fact that their teams took fright
as they saw this machine on the countr\- roads. This [jliase of the matter
came to such a pass that there were many who were heard to advocate the
passage of some kind of a law barring the autos from the use of the pul)lic
highways.

Looking backward from the present it seems amusing to remember iiow
greatly wrought up tlie people of those times l)ecanie toward the owners of
autos. From this feeling expression was given in the passage of laws govern-
ing machines on the public highway.

The first machines were hard to sell, as the prices asked for them seemed
highly exorbitant to the farmers and citizens who were accustomed to the use
of horses and like all new things were regarded seriously as impractical.

3-'-| UK IIARDSON COrXTV, Xi:i!RA.SKA.

Tliose who first engaged in the business had trying times in making sales and
were obhged to do a great deal of "demonstrating" to the prospective pur-
chasers, which process resulted in the use of much "gas" of both the vocal
and fluid sort.

The first regular agency for the sale of automobiles in Falls City was
opened by Guy Crook and Peter Frederick, Jr.. who entered the business in
1908, and remained in the business for a year or two. selling many of the
first machines used on the roads in the east part of the county. Their first
sale of a touring car was made to Charles Harkendorf, a farmer, residing
northeast of Falls City. The next machine was sold to Roy Heacock. resid-
ing in Falls City. The physicians of the city who had a large country prac-
tice and had been obliged to keep horses for this purpose, were among the
first to see the convenience, economy and saving of time that would result
if the machines were found able to do their work and each in turn provided
himself with one. It is related of one of the leading physicians who had
been slow to believe in the practicability of the auto tliat, upon being inter-
viewed by one of the above salesmen, he proposed that a "try-out" be made
on one of his worst trips, whicli took him some twenty-five miles from the city
and over the worst roads in the county. If this was done and the machine
found to be reasonably satisfactory he could be regarded as a "prospect."
The trip was made in record time, with the expectation that on the return to
town the sale would be completed, but the Doctor was not yet convinced, or
at least not in so far as tliat machine was concerned, but did soon procure
a machine from other parties.

Automobiles are now owned 1)\ tlie hundreds in all parts of the county
and principally by the farmers, who have found them more useful than they
had dreamed, and their coming and adoption have, as a consequence, awakened
a live interest in the good-roads movement and resulted in great betterment
of the highwavs throughout the county. No machine used by man has been
so universally accepted in so short a time; where a dozen years ago there
were not a half dozen machines in Richardson county, it now ranks third
in tlie state in the number of machines owned per capita.

When in the early stages of the introduction of the automobile it was
seen that the auto had met witli almost instant and universal favor there
were those who believed their purchase on so large a scale would bankrupt
the county, but, in so far as we have been able to learn, there has never
lieen a foreclosure of a mortgage in Richardson county on real estate that
might be traced directly to the purchase of automobiles, notwithstanding the
fact that so manv are owned here. As a matter of fact the farmers of

RICllAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 325

Richardson county are prosperous to a degree not known in many sections of
the country and are amply able to bu)- and pay outright for whatever num-
ber of machines they may find necessary to use in their business.

The introduction of the auto-truck is now fast finding its way into the
country districts of Richardson county and is being used for all kinds of
hauling and is greatly appreciated. The same is true in the cities and
villages, where most of tlie horse-drawn dray lines have substituted the auto-
truck and found it much more satisfactory. The stage line has gone and
with it the horse-drawn omnibus, which has given way to the auto-bus
now used in all the towns and most of the villages, much t(i the satisfacti<ni
of the patrons of the same.

CHAPTER XIII.
Schools and Education.

B.v Daniel H. Weber. County Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The request has been made of me that I briefly review the school activi-
ties of this county from the time of its early settlement until the present
time. This is not easily done, because until comparatively recently no com-
plete records were left in this office. Some schools were conducted in what
is now Richardson county as early as the fifties, many years before Nebraska
was admitted to the sisterhood of states. These early schools were largely
subscription schools and were held anywhere where the number of pupils
warranted it. The schools were not authorized and governed Ij}- law . Ijut
were held by common consent. Usually some deserted squatter's cabin was
conscripted or some hospitable settler offered his rude log home for this
purpose. Indeed, many times the school was taught by some married man
iir woman who had obtained the rudiments of an education in the East
liefore embarking upon the journey to the land that Horace Greele}- later
stated spelled "opportunity." Each parent paid his mite in proportion to
the number of pupils attending and the mite wasn't very large. If someone
outside of tlie community was selected as teacher he drew a portion of his
salary, if. we might term the paltry wages salary, by Ijoarding with liis
his various patrons.

CRUDE EQUIPMENT OF EARLY SCHOOLS.

In 1854, there was not a public school in Richardson county, and it
is said bj- reliable parties that Willis Maddox, Fred Harkendorf, AIar\
Harkendorf, Jesse ("rook and family, Dave L. Thompson and Elias Menshall
were the only white persons within the limits of \yhat is now Richardson
county. Instead of listening to the chimes of the school bells and feasting
upon the views of well ordered farms and buildings, these sturdy and fear-
less pioneers were compelled to be contented with the howl of the wolf and
the bark of the prairie dog. The county was peopled with Indians, Init
tlie al)originals lived on amicable relations witli tlie white settlers. Little

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 327

did those early pioneers dream that this count}' would ever be dotted with
farm houses, churches and schools as we find it today. Today we have, a
school for every four or five sections of land and very few pupils have to
trudge over two miles in getting to school. The roads are open and no
dangers beset them on the way. The schools are open from seven to nine
months; the same teacher has charge of the school for the entire year, the
school houses are Imilt comfortably and attention is being paid to sanita-
tion, seating, lighting and ventilation. The equipments are complete. Con-
trast this condition with the pioneer school which was built of logs, the
crevices of which were filled with straw. to keep out some of the wintry
blasts and drifting snows. Shoe boxes were used as desks and soap boxes
as seats. Slate blackboards were unknown, but slates instead of paper tablets
predominated with the pupils. .\ slab or two of fiat boards painted black
sufficed for the board need's of the early teacher. Strange to say, similar
boards are still found in some of our present-day schools. In the early
days the school year was divided into the fall, winter and spring term and
each term had a different teacher. Each pupil furnished his own text-books
and all were of a different kind, which condititm presented many difficult
problems to the early progressive teacher who endeavored to secure anything
like a semblance of uniformity. Unless one actually attended or taught
one of the pioneer schools, it is indeed difficult for the uninitiated to visualize
clearly the many drawbacks of these .schools.

GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN SCHOOL.

From 1854 to i860 settlers came to this county very slowly and then
settled near the Missouri river because of the traffic that was wont to ply
up and down this great body of water. It was the only means of trans-
portation, as the nearest railroad was many miles from this county. Gradu-
ally the old superstition of starving to death or being blown away by the
winds if one lived on the prairies was dissipated, and the settlers pushed
farther Westward. From i860 to 1867, in which latter year Nebraska was
admitted to the union a great influx of ix)pulation was seen. Many came to
escape the scenes of the war, others because of the opportunities offered in
a new land. Alx)ut this time, and l)e fore general settlement, schools began
'to be established. As time went on the various school districts were organ-
ized, the early records of which are missing. On other pages appears the
earlv historv of a number of these districts. .\t first all the .school houses

22» RICHAROSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

were of log or sod, but in the seventies and eighties these were displaced
with frame buildings. About 1885 a building boom began to sweep the
school districts. In that year eight new school houses were built at a cost
of $10,000; in 1886, two buildings, at a cost of $11,000; in 1887, three,
at a cost of $2,600; in 1888, four at a cost of $8,500; in 1889, two at a
cost of $7,000; in 1890, three at a cost of $4,600; in 1891, three at $2,060;
in 1892, four at a cost of $3,400; in 1893, six at a cost of $3,400, making
thirty-five new school buildings, costing $82,000 in round numbers, built in
nine years. No information is available as to the number built since then.
A few years ago the people of Stella voted bonds and built one of the finest
buildings in the county, .\bout four years ago Falls City, realizing that
the needs of the pupils demanded another building, erected one of the best
and most costly high schcjol Iniildings in the state. Last year (1916), Daw-
son reconstructed its building, making some imi^rtant and needed change.'^.
A few years ago, Verdon and Shubert each erected a separate room fur
the primary grades. Since I have been superintendent a number of new
buildings have been erected. In 191 5, district No. 31 tore down the old
structure and erected a modern building costing over one thousand dollars.
Last year (1916), districts 8 and 9 of this county and 2 of Nemaha county
consolidated and a splendid four-room brick building, costing over ten thou-
sand dollars was erected, which is pronounced by educators as the best and
most admirably equipped consolidated school in the state. It has a Delco
lighting system, a water pressure system, steam-heating plant and toilets.
Two of the rooms are so constructed that they can be thrown together for
social and community gatherings; a large gymnasium has Ijeen built, and
the school has domestic science and manual training ecjuipment. In every
\va\- the school has been arranged so that it can take its place in looking
alter every need of the pupils of this agricultural center. Twelve grades
will lie Iiandled next \ear, under the supervision of four esj)ecially trained
ami wel!-(|ualifie(l teachers. .\ teacherage. modern in all its equijiment. has
been erected for the needs of the faculty. The district owns six acres of
land and nuich iiractical demonstration work will be done. The principal
owns an automobile and thus has a convenient means of conveyance. A
lecture course will Ije held there next year. Short courses will also lie given
annuall}-. The transportation of the pupils is looked after by three men.,
two of whom transport the pujiils with autonioljiles. \'isitors from all sec-
tions of this county as well as from other counties have called to see this
new departure in education. District No. 80 is erecting a larger and iielter

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 329

building than it had before, the same to cost well over one thousand dollars,
exclusive of the equipment. District No. i, which boasted one of the oldest
and, I might add, one of the worst frame buildings in the count}', was
visited by the Missouri recently, the encroaching waters advising thai a
new building had best be erected on higher ground. Consequently the old
building was razed and a new one was built in the summer of 1917. Dis-
trict Xo. 22 is the name of a new district recently organized in the old
Iowa Indian reservation country southeast of Rulo. and a new eighty-hun-
dred-dollar building was erected there during this same summer. Other
buildings will be erected next year and in the years immediately following,
as a number would be condemned by any building- inspector visiting us.

.SOME SCHOOL STATISTICS.

While we can boast of more and better buildings, and a greater number
and better qualified teachers, yet we cannot boast of any increase in the
school census, between the ages of five and twenty-one. In 1886 we had
6,901 children of school age, and 126 teachers. In 1890, it was 6,8[-|
and 133. In 1893, we had 6,846 school children and 141 teachers. Today
we have barely over 6,000 school children and 175 teachers. In the earl\'
days it was not unusual to find an enrollment of from fifty to eighty. Toda\
the average is not over fifteen and a school with thirty or more is tlu
exception. District No. 20, near Barada, had nearly fifty on its list last
year, but the attendance was very irregular. Districts 53 and 42 still ha\c
verj' good enrollments.

.\t present there are one hundred and ten public school houses in tlic
county and in addition there are four parochial schools. Ninety- four are
frame and sixteen are brick. In 1883 there were 108 buildings \alued at
$145,000; today they are valued at $230,000, of which Falls City alone
claims over $100,000. Text-books are valued at $75,000. At least $350,000
is invested for educational purposes in this count}'.

In 1880 there were two grade schools in the county — Falls City and
Humboldt, this former having eight teachers and the latter four. At present
Falls City has thirty-three teachers, including special experts for manual
training, domestic science, athletics, art, penmanship, etc. Departmental
work is carried on in the seventh and eighth grades. Humboldt has four-
teen teachers and is represented in practically all the departments mentioned
for brails Citv. Roth schools are accredited for normal training work and

:\7,0 RICIIAUnSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

eacli year from live t^i fifteen teachers complete this department of the
work. In 1881 the Rulo school was partially graded and in 1888 the progres-
sive people of that citj- decided that better conditions were necessary. Hence
a fine ten-thousand-dollar brick building was erected, which is even today
sufficiently large for the growing needs of that thriving little city. When
the building was completed the course of study was revised and the course
increased so as to include the work of ten grades. A few years ago the
eleventh grade was added. There is ample room for twelve grades, manual
training, domestic science, etc., whenever the sentiment of the conmiunit}
favors their installation. In point of attendance the school ranks third in
the county. During the past year five teachers were employed in the grades.
In 1885 Salem, Stella and \^erdon were added to the list of graded schools,
each at that time planning to carry nine grades. At that time Verdon and
Stella both built new frame buildings, costing about three thousand dollars
each. \^erdon gradually increased the number of grades until 1916, when the
school was recognized by the state department as a twelve-grade school.
During the past year several attempts were made to vote bonds for a new
building, but each time the necessary two-thirds majority could nut be ob-
tained. Stella grew in grace rapidly and has had twelve grades for a num-
ber of vears. and also l)oasts one of the best and most complete average-
sized school buildings in the state, ^'erd<ln employs six teachers and Stella,
seven. In 1888 Salem built a three-room lirick building which aliuost im-
mediately proved inadequate for the needs nf the school. Since that time
two frame buildings, in different parts of the city, have been commandeered
for the primary and intermediate grades. Several efforts have been made
b\ the citizens to build a new building, but on account of the other heavy
taxes the proposal has each time been defeated. The school now has elevtn
.!L;rades. In 1884 Dawson was added to the list and bit by bit she has in-
creased her course until now she has twelve grades fully accredited. Six
teachers are on the facult\-. Preston and Barada have two-room buildings
and some years carrv nine grades and <nhers ten. Usually two teachers
are employed. It is not known exactly when Shubert became a high .school.
but in 1912, the eleventh grade was installed and a frame building was
])urchased for the primary grades. The citizens of Shubert are progressive.
l)ut are now paying the limit allowed by law for school purposes, so it ma\-
])c a number of years l)efore another grade is installed. Dawson has a
parochial school in charge of Fr. F. \. O'Brien, with three teachers. Rulo's
l)arochial school was not in session last year, but will have two teachers

RKHARnSON COUNTV. NEBRASKA. 33I

next year. The Falls City parocliial .school, under the management of Fr.
J. J. Hoffman, ha.s eight teachers and an enrollment of about one hundred
and fifty. Twelve grades are carried and full credit is given for the normal
training work. It is one of three sch<ools in this county able to secure credit
in this branch. The Dawson and Rulo parochial schools carry eight grades.
C. Merz teaches a German school in Ohio township, under the supervision
of the Lutheran church. Half the instruction is in German and half in
English. On another page will appear the names of the teachers of Rich-
ardson county for the school year 1917-18, also a list of the school officers
fur the same period.

THE PAST CONTRASTED WITH THE PRESENT.

In comparing- the schools of fifty years ago with the schools of toda\-,
one will be startled by the striking changes that have taken place. A perusal
of the lists of early teachers will reveal a large preponderance of men. but
slowly, as the years rolled b\-. fewer and fewer men volunteered their serv-
ices until today, in the rural schools, the proportion is twelve to one in
favor of the women. In fact, last year there were but nine men on the
list and this year the num!)er has diminished to eight, with several of
these eligible for the draft. A number of reasons are ascribed for this.
In tile first place, many young men seem to feel that they are not fitted
by nature to be teachers, especially where younger pupils predominate. I
concur in that view. Others feel that the work is not a man's task and feel
that it savors of housework. Others do not like it because it lacks per-
manency and leaves the individual without much independence. The great-
est objection is the poor wages. While the prices of the necessities of life
have doubled and tripled and then some, teachers wages have hardly been
aft'ected. Ten years ago I received from forty to forty seven dollars and
a

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Full text of "History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions"

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